A local business is looking forward to offering more of its services year-round thanks to a change of location.
Signarama in Champaign, which was previously on Marketview Drive, can now be found at 520 N. Hickory St.
Business development advisor AJ Swaim said they opened at the new, larger location about a month ago, and the property includes 3,000 square feet of office space and a 7,000 square-foot warehouse.
“What’s really exciting is we have now a bay where vehicles can drive in, so now we are finally able to offer year-round wraps, car wraps and vehicle graphic installs,” she said. “Whereas at our old location, because we did not have an inside place for the vehicles to go, we had to limit it to seasonal wraps and seasonal decal installs.”
The business is currently offering 10% off for all new clients on vehicle graphics.
The Burrito Lab at 209 E. University Ave., D, in Champaign on Monday, June 17, 2024.
A different kind of lab
A new Tex-Mex-style eatery is expected to open in Champaign later this summer.
Owner Hugo Aceves said he hopes to open The Burrito Lab at 209 E. University Ave., D, in late July.
“I know that this town has a lot of great Mexican restaurants,” he said. “…I think we’re more on the Tex-Mex side.”
Aceves described his concept as “Chipotle meets street food” and plans to include walking tacos on their menu.
“It’s something that’s pretty nostalgic,” he said.
Aceves said that one of the things that will set The Burrito Lab apart from other restaurants is that, per their slogan — “Life deserves mas Guac” — they will not charge extra for guacamole.
He also plans to use unique ingredients and recipes that have been passed down through his mother’s family for generations.
One of the daycare spaces at Lodgic Coworking.
Back to basics
Lodgic Coworking has found a tenant for its daycare space. Lynette Hendricks, owner of Two by Two Learning Center, estimated the new business could open on Aug. 1. However, this is contingent on factors such as getting the necessary license from the state and approval from public health officials.
Hendricks said that the business will focus not just on taking care of children but also providing education.
“I have assisted another Champaign business owner with a program and realized that a lot of children don’t know how to read,” she said. “And the need to just provide the basic fundamentals at a early stage are important, so I just figured it’s time to go back to the basics and make sure that foundation is laid properly.”
World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods and Strawberry Fields Café co-owner Ahmad Shalabi. Shalabi owns the businesses with his brothers, Jehad and Moad.
Mohammad Al-Heeti, former owner of World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods and Strawberry Fields Café. June 19, 2024.
World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods is located at 306 W. Springfield Ave., in Urbana.
New faces in familiar places
World Harvest International and Gourmet Foods and Strawberry Fields Café, both located at 306 W. Springfield Ave. in Urbana, are now under new ownership.
Ahmad Shalabi and his brothers, Jehad and Moad, have purchased the businesses from former owner Mohammad Al-Heeti.
“It’s a family business,” Shalabi said.
He added that they plan to expand the store’s offerings with fresh halal meat, more produce and additional international goods.
Al-Heeti bought Strawberry Fields in 2015 and relocated World Harvest into the same building in 2017.
“At a certain point, any human being, they need to retire,” he said.
His official last day at the store was April 30, but he’s also provided some help with the transition.
While he’s still trying to figure out to do with his newfound free time, Al-Heeti’s plans include tending his garden, spending time with family, traveling and taking some more time to rest. He noted that being retired will allow him to take longer trips to see his family in Iraq.
He has mixed feelings about stepping away from the businesses. On the one hand, he’s enjoyed bonding with members of the community and his customers, and he may not see them as much now that he’s retired.
On the other hand, he said that running a business has become more challenging, particularly due to post-pandemic challenges such as supply chain issues and inflation.
However, Al-Heeti added that while residents may not see him at the store, they don’t need to worry about him moving away.
“Champaign-Urbana (has) become a second hometown to me,” he said.
Local artist Cameron Raab has been selected by the Urbana Arts and Culture Commission to create a new ground mural at the Market at the Square. A flier for the project shows off some of his previous work, which city officials said “blends elements of science fiction with bold, graphic linework, making his art a vivid exploration of imaginative worlds.”
Painting the town (or at least Lincoln Square)
Urbana Arts and Culture is looking for teen and adult volunteers to help paint a ground mural at the city’s Market at the Square. Work is expected to get underway this Sunday.
Cameron Raab has been selected by the Urbana Arts and Culture Commission as the guest artist for the market mural.
“Cameron is a local artist based in Champaign who uses futuristic and solar-punk imagery paired with bright colors, creating vibrant and dynamic works,” city staff said. “His distinctive style blends elements of science fiction with bold, graphic linework making his art a vivid exploration of imaginative worlds.”
According to Vivian Krishnan, arts and culture program specialist for the city of Urbana, the ground mural will be “semi-permanent” and is expected to last about two to three years.
“Weather permitting, the installation will go from June 23rd -June 28th,” she said.
Volunteers can sign up at signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA9A62FA6F9C52-49889058-market#/. Food will be provided.
City staff said that artistic ability is not required, as the volunteer work is “just like paint by numbers.”
Bank of Springfield’s new location at 1015 W. Windsor Rd. in Champaign is now open.
BOS opens local branch
Bank of Springfield has opened its new Champaign location at 1015 W. Windsor Rd.
“Bank of Springfield offers a great opportunity to serve both the business and personal banking needs of our community,” said Community Bank President Becky Preston, who will head the new branch. “I’m excited to open our doors and continue to build relationships with the Champaign area.”
Bank of Springfield has 16 branches in Illinois and Missouri.
