S
omebody asked me
recently what the biggest
difference was between
my job as editor of
The Peorian
and what I did in more than 30
years in newspapers, including
19
as business editor of the Peoria
Journal Star.
It’s an easy answer, really: Get-
ting used to writing more than a
month out from publication in-
stead of facing daily deadlines and
trying to get the news out first.
That really hits home when we
are doing the November-Decem-
ber issue of The Peorian because
we are interviewing people and
trying to dig up art for stories
about the Christmas holidays.
Sometimes when I ask people
in September to do an interview
about Christmas there is either
silence on the other end or, if
in person, they look at me like I
have elves coming out of my ears.
I don’t blame them. I wrote in
this space last year that I don’t
like it when stores start putting
out Christmas decorations before
Halloween. But I will admit, there
are exceptions to the rule. Our
cover photo as well as the story
that on page 20 bears that out.
The Red Barn Tree Shop
opened Oct. 1 and it is all about
the holidays and Christmas trees
and decorations. That store is
an exception because they are a
specialty retailer that relies on
sales of certain items to exist. In
this case, The Red Barn also only
gets three months out of the year
to do it.
That store is but one of the spe-
cialty retailers we focus on in this
issue and while deciding which
stores to pick, I was amazed at
the choices area residents have, of
the uniqueness of products they
can find right here.
I mean, a store that special-
izes in extra-virgin olive oils and
balsamic vinegars? In Peoria
Heights? I was skeptical, until I
visited there. The aroma alone
is enough to get you back; then
when they let you taste the
product before you buy it? Olio &
Vino is worth the trip.
I was struck by the cascade of
color when I walked into Bush-
whacker, the outdoors sports
store in the Metro Centre. It was
my first time there because I am
not a hiker or kayaker or skier or
snowboarder.
Oh, I know; it’s not about the
colors. But I wouldn’t know a
quality kayak from a junky one
or what is a good snowboard. But
the people who work there cer-
tainly do. They don’t sell it until
after they’ve tried it. In fact, on its
website,
it states that “no 9-to-5ers need
apply” for work there. It’s a good
thing I like what I do.
Not many home décor stores
are found in buildings that had
to first be refurbished from
dilapidated warehouse space, like
Grimm Interiors in Morton.
There are several pet stores
and jewelry stores in Peoria and
we hit two of them. We will hit
others in the future. The fact
remains, these two stores are
unique. Kevin Kelly Jewelers and
Pooch Couture are very service-
oriented and fun.
Check out local specialty
retailers as you plan your own
Christmas shopping adventures
this year. I have no doubt you can
find something you or a loved
one would enjoy.
President ӕ Publisher
Julie Russell
Editor
Paul Gordon
Design
Stuart Clubb
Mike Cameron
Megan Valentine
Contributing Writers
Kevin Kizer
Dr. Peter J. Couri
Cathi Hawkinson
Dr. Joy Miller
Anne Peterson
Bill Liesse
Advertising Sales Contact
Kelly Popadziuk
Production Manager
Mark Kiel
Production
AdCo Advertising Agency, Inc.
1302
W. Pioneer Parkway
Peoria, IL 61615
Phone: (309) 692-7880
Editor
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thePeorian.com
