Specialty Retail: Seasonal

A Christmas tradition
The Red Barn Tree Shop puts family fun into the season

What started out a family tradition that turned into a hobby is now a full-fledged business for Barb and Russ Roth. And they wouldn't want it any other way.

"It's always enjoyable to see new people who have never been here before, but we...

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Caterpillar updates 2015 expectations

While profit expectations are lower, sales and revenues may reach $100 billion, company tells analysts                  

Caterpillar Inc. said...

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Specialty Retail: Jewelry

Kevin Kelly: Your one-stop jeweler

When Kevin Kelly decided to open shop in a small strip center in north Peoria he put a sign out front and hoped that and word-of-mouth advertising would be enough to bring in customers and permit business growth.

It did, though in sort of a roundabout way.

Because of his solid reputation in jewelry repair, forged during nearly...

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Inaugural Tonti Award to honor Caterpillar

Award named for Peoria founder to honor those who demonstrate principled leadership                               

Caterpillar...

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Specialty Retail: Pets

It Was The Right Tree
Young entrepreneur puts pets first in unique boutique

When Lindsey Reck visited a few dog boutiques on a trip to Florida a few years ago, she had the feeling a similar venture could work in Peoria.

At the very least, she wanted to give local pet owners another option in their quest to spoil their four-legged...

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Not cool, people. Not cool.

Imagine going to a public meeting as part of your normal job and finding out, at the same time everybody else does, that your job — indeed your employer — has changed.

That's what happened to staff at the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois on Tuesday. Either by conference call or in person, I'm told, they participated in a meeting of the Economic Development Regional Steering Committee and heard their numbers had been...

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Specialty Retail: Food & Drink

A Touch of Italy in the Heights
Olio & Vino offers unique taste experience with olive oils, spices and wines

When Stephanie Brott went into a shop in Scottsdale, Ariz., that specialized in olive oils and wines a few years ago, she was reminded of Italy. Given her maiden name is Bernardi, of Bernardi's restaurant fame, she would know...

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Heartland Partnership joins development restructure effort

HP chairman Mark Spenny appointed to committee after Partnership requests it be done

The Heartland Partnership, which heretofore felt it had been left out of some critical decision making...

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Specialty Retail: Home Décor

From traditional to contemporary
Grimm Interiors aims to make you feel at home

When Becky Grimm and her family and friends set out to take a dilapidated building on Washington Street in Morton and turn it into a rustic showplace nearly a decade ago, it was what she called "a labor of love."

That's how she still feels about the...

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Cat Visitors Center will play big part in state tourism

Coming off a record year in 2011, the Illinois Office of Tourism had a lot to crow about when it made a stop in Peoria on Wednesday.

Still, it was understandable why state tourism officials would be excited about what it yet to come in Peoria — the new Caterpillar Visitors Center and Peoria Riverfront Museum, both scheduled to open Oct. 20.

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Patronage Appreciated!

Merchants embrace Small Business Saturday

When something has been proven a success, the tendency is to not only stick with it but to expand it.

Such is the case with Small Business Saturday, the special holiday shopping day created by American Express in 2010 that has grown by the proverbial leaps and bounds since then. It will be Nov. 24 this year.

American Express said more...

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Cat to receive Freedom Award; changes afoot at Goodwill

Caterpillar Inc. has always prided itself on supporting its employees who are members of the Guard and Reserve. The company recently was awarded for that support.

Caterpillar was one of only 15 companies nationwide to be given the 2012 Support Freedom Award, the nation's highest honor presented by the U.S. Department of Defense. The formal presentation will be in September. The Department of Defense said there were 3,236 nominations for...

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Area home sales continue recovery

Sales, average and median prices all up in Q3; PAAR installs new officers for 2012-2013                

The Peoria-area housing market continued to show improvement during the...

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LISC launches neighborhoods reclamation effort

An effort to improve conditions in poverty-stricken area of Peoria will start with the South Side and East Bluff, officials announced Thursday during block parties at venues in each area.

The parties were planned to celebrate and kick off the work by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to "mark its commitment to neighborhood rebuilding," officials said in the announcement.

Announcements were made at block parties at Harrison...

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A record 3rd quarter for Cat

Company had its best third quarter ever but becomes more cautious in outlook                 

Caterpillar Inc. rode strong growth in mining and other resource industries and modest recovery...

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Cat increases cash dividend

Caterpillar Inc.'s board of directors on Wednesday raised the company's quarterly cash dividend by 13 percent, declaring a dividend of 52 cents a share.

The action came before the company's annual meeting of shareholders in San Antonion, Texas.

The dividend, an increase over the previous cash quarterly dividend of 46...

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Sound the trumpets!

After 12 years in the making Museum Square completed and open

Like trumpeting the start of something great, a locomotive blasted its horn loudly and often while moving slowly on the tracks on Peoria's river front. It seemed it was about to threaten...

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Cat: The right size... for right now

When Caterpillar Inc. unveiled its first quarter financial report last weeks it boasted, rightfully so, that its worldwide employment was at 155,710 at the end of the quarter. That is almost 50 percent higher than it was at the start of 2010.

You may recall the start of 2010 was about the time Caterpillar had finished downsizing its workforce as part of its trough planning to get through the recession relatively unscathed. The company...

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Cat announces retirements, promotions

Two group presidents of Caterpillar Inc. will retire in the next few months, the company announced on Thursday.

Rich Lavin, 60, group president responsible for construction industries and growth markets, will retire at the end of the year and Gerard Vittecoq, 64, responsible for energy and power systems, will retire next May, the company said. Read more...

Cat maintains dividend

Caterpillar Inc.'s board of directors voted Wednesday to maintain the company's quarterly cash dividend at 46 cents per share of common stock.

The dividend is payable May 19 to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 23, the company said in a news release.

"I am pleased to announce we are...

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