Hosted by the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, around 100 local businesses participated in the annual Halloween festivities.

The city of Sterling is hosting an outdoor Christmas decorating contest. Entry dates are Nov. 15 to Dec. 6.

On Friday, Oct, 31, 2025, the annual Downtown Trick or Treat was held in Rochelle. Candy seekers took to the streets on Halloween and were greeted by downtown business owners and employees.

Local resident and entrepreneur Steve Trkla has opened a new Signarama location in Volo at 31632 N. Ellis Drive, Unit 107.

The little castle on Main Street in Ottawa has life once again, as Keely’s Castle recently opened at the site of the former Prince Castle ice cream shop.

The shop at 217 W. Main St. will close in a few weeks. An exact date has not been announced. Current jobs will be finished and new jobs will not be accepted. 

The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day. Free T-shirts and stickers will be given to the first 100 customers starting at 2 p.m.

The Oregon City Council approved a bid of $36,780 Tuesday night, Oct. 28, 2025, to demolish a home one block south of the city’s commercial district to increase parking.

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated

Amazon will cut about 14,000 corporate jobs as the online retail giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence while cutting costs elsewhere

A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market dipped by 2.9 points to 71.5, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead

Shoppers are expected to line-up for the grand opening beginning at 8 a.m. on Nov. 12. The new location is at at 825 E. Veterans Parkway, Yorkville.

Honorary principals from a cross section of the community spent the day shadowing the 21 District 86 school principals where they assisted on a variety of duties and responsibilities.

The Wyanet Meat Shop, formerly known as Wyanet Meat Locker, will soon reopen under new ownership.

Sterling’s Ink and Ivy Tattoo and Piercing will hold its grand opening Nov. 1.

The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Vintage Vines hosted a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, Oct. 23 to celebrate the continued growth of downtown Spring Valley.

The long-running process to get the former Jaffe Drugs property onto the real estate market is nearing completion.

CMR Health Group in Yorkville celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 20.

The Jefferson Street location in Joliet was the second location for Pops Italian Beef & Sausage when the company announced its opening in 2022.

Vicki Sauter owns Dog Trot Pottery at 308 W. First St. in Dixon. The shop offers unique, handcrafted pottery made by Sauter, including bowls, plates and dishes.

Oddities abound at this new shop of dark art and oddities in downtown DeKalb. Mr. Willy's Dark Art and Oddities first started doing business in town on Oct. 18.

A ribboncutting was held Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, for three automotive businesses at 1400 N. Seventh St. in Rochelle: Doug Smith Motors, Mason Smith Auto Repair and Superior Dent Services.

The Three Rivers Association of REALTORS and Gateville Law Firm will host “Real Estate Investor Palooza” on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Joliet Junior College.

A grand opening and ribboncutting ceremony were held Oct. 22, 2025, for Davis Family Health and Trim IV Infusions at their new location at 450 Coronado Drive in Rochelle.

In time for pumpkin spice latte season, a new Starbucks drive-through location has opened in Montgomery.

Stillman Bank recently promoted a key member of its team in northern Illinois. Kaitlyn Jones has been promoted to the position of treasury relationship manager, according to Thomas R. Hughes, president and CEO.

Local business leaders hit the links in the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 22nd Annual Golf Outing at Blackberry Oaks Golf Course last month.

Noodles and Company in DeKalb has permanently closed its doors, ending local operations

Made in Kendall is a program of the Kendall County Economic Development Office with the goal of promoting manufacturing and supporting manufacturers and makers in Kendall County.

Tommie Wallace opened Deebo’s three years ago after leaving his job of eight years cooking at the former Corner Spot Bar & Grill in Dixon.

Two decades in the making, the Marquis Pointe subdivision in Montgomery is finally being built out. Developers DR Horton are listing available homes in the $450,000-$470,000 range.

A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, 2320 Black Road in Joliet. A funeral Mass for Reardon will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus.

The Mound is a baseball and softball training facility in Oglesby dedicated to helping athletes develop their skills and passion for the game year-round.

The Joliet City Center Partnership will host its annual Halloween-themed “Spirits with the Spirits” in downtown Joliet on Friday.

The Bean Box Espresso, with locations in La Salle and Spring Valley, has introduced a trailer to offer more opportunities to pick up a cup of joe.

The Caribbean cuisine bar and grill will be located at the Louis Joliet Mall entrance near the JC Penney store.

A grand reopening at Debo Ace Hardware in Peru is Saturday, following the store’s completion of a remodel.

Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa will be closed from Friday through Sunday, Nov. 2, while the building undergoes renovations to its infrastructure. 

Roxy Cinemas in Ottawa will reopen this week after undergoing renovations.

Forreston Area Business Association is hosting Spooktacular Saturday on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

People are invited to bring their donations of non-perishable, unexpired food items and toiletries to Cornerstone's main office at 550 W. Meadows Drive in Freeport.

The Hammond-Henry Hospital Board of Directors and Administration has announced Dr. David Cook is joining the staff at its Colona Clinic on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Colona.

After undergoing a transformation, MVMT Fitness Studio in Yorkville has opened its doors. Its 60-minute workouts are designed to “build your strength, boost your confidence.”

The Great Teachers Award has recognized hundreds educators since its inception in 2008.

Owner Sarah Delaney has more than nine years of experience in 3,500 treatments and more than five years of seasoned microblading coaching and consulting.

Just in-time for the turkey-rush, the brand new Costco in Yorkville will be celebrating its grand opening on Nov. 12.

Rochelle small business retail incubator “The Spark Shop” officially reopened Oct. 18, 2025, in the city’s historic filling station at 500 Lincoln Ave.

Registration is now open for the Joliet African American Business Association’s first Big Pitch Competition on Nov. 1.

Earlier this year, Purple Lotus Solutions Inc., a comprehensive mental wellness center opened in Yorkville.

Multiple downtown Geneva businesses have partnered to host a fashion and personal style event this month to help women boost their confidence inside and out.