Business Notebook: Longtime area baker opens bakery

STERLING – If you're driving down Avenue G and suddenly smell butter and vanilla in the air, that's because you're in the neighborhood of Aurelio's Bake Shop, which Aurelio Gallardo plans to open this weekend.

Gallardo, 40, a Mexican native, has roughly 20 years of baking experience at various local businesses: McCaslin's Bakery, Youngstown Express, Country Market and County Market.

He will offer cakes for weddings, quinceaneras and other occasions, along with cookies (including iced and Mexican cookies), muffins, brownies, cheesecakes, and tres leche cakes. He also intends to offer a mocha cake, a chocolate cake with coffee and milk.

The bakery will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to noon Saturday at 406 Avenue G.

Call 815-626-2253 or find the bakery on Facebook for more information.

Beauty salon and massage business opens in Prophetstown

PROPHETSTOWN – Hometown girl Tirzah Renkes, 33, has opened Small Town Massage, Hair and Care at 343 Washington St.

Three stylists also provide massage therapy, ear candling, manicures and waxing, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Renkes said.

Call 815-537-9090 for more information.

New limousine service in Dixon

DIXON – Shane Walters thinks everyone should have the opportunity to ride in a limo, so the 30-year-old Dixon resident started Red Carpet Limo Service.

"I thought it was so cool," said Walters, who is also an electronics associate at the Dixon Walmart. "I thought maybe I could bring a little something to a small town and charge about half the prices around. I think it's a really great opportunity to get in a limo."

Red Carpet offers different packages for weddings, bar nights, proms, birthdays and funerals. The starting rate is $50 an hour and $5 for every 30 miles, plus a 20 percent gratuity for the driver.

Reservations should be made 24 to 48 hours in advance at 866-251-8709. Go to dixonlimo.com or find it on Facebook for more information.

Pawn shop opens in Rock Falls

ROCK FALLS – Rock Falls Pawn & Loan opened April 3 at 223 W. Second St.

Manager Sal Garcia said the store is the only pawn shop in Rock Falls. They buy and sell electronics, power tools, gold and silver from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 815-626-7296 or find Rock Falls Pawn Loan on Facebook.