Candy Bouquet opens in Sterling
STERLING – If you know someone who thinks candy is dandy, you might want to order a delivery from Simply Sweet Inc., a Candy Bouquet shop that opened April 2 at 2522 E. Lincolnway, Suite E.
The store creates candy bouquets using vases, soda glasses or baskets. Hard candies, fudge, chocolate, and ganache can be used in the bouquets, which the store can deliver or ship. Sugar-free fudge and hard candy also are available.
Delivery fees vary by distance.
Chris and Brian Babel, 59 and 58, of Sterling, won the franchise. Brian is a Sterling native.
Call 815-632-3577 for more information.
Photo studio
opens in Rock Falls
ROCK FALLS – Deb Toth has opened a photography studio and resale shop, Allstarzz Photography & More, at 119 W. Second St.
Toth, 47, of Harmon, takes portrait photos and shoots athletic events.
The store, which opened in late February, sells scrapbooking materials, and Toth hopes also to offer scrapbooking classes, she said.
She also sells household items from Toth Auction House, which is owned by her husband, Mike Toth.
The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday; and by request on Saturday and Sunday.
Call 779-861-0409 for more information.
Ashton Foods opens deli
ASHTON – Ashton Foods has opened its own delicatessen, and no longer will have deli foods shipped from Beggs Foods, its sister store in Amboy.
Ashton Foods remodeled to accommodate the deli, which opened March 19, the second anniversary of the opening of the store at 602 Brown Ave. Owners built a stock room and added a kitchen and a seven-door walk-in cooler.
“The store’s growing,” manager Amanda Torkelson said. “I have a lot of people coming in saying, ‘Wow, it looks like a grocery store.’”
The deli offers a weekly rotation of hot meals, and pizza, pizza by the slice, chicken strips, burgers with a choice of five types of cheese, submarine sandwiches and salads. Fountain drinks are coming, Torkelson said.
Plans call for picnic tables outside so people can dine al fresco, and soups will be sold in winter, Torkelson said.
The deli is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The grocery store is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Go to www.ashtonusa.com/ashtonfoods or call 815-453-5024 for more information.
Blackhawk Hills turns 20
ROCK FALLS – Blackhawk Hills Economic Development District is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Blackhawk Hills was designated as an Economic Development District by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration in 1992. The nonprofit helps governments and public entities in Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, and Stephenson counties get funds for community development and planning activities.
It provides community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection support, and grant writing and administration.
The development district was created by Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of rural economies through the improvement and conservation of all resources.
Go to www.blackhawkhills.com or contact Theresa Wittenauer, Theresa.Wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com or 815-625-3854 for more information on the agency.
