Shop Local Intros

B&B Trophy is located at 807 18th St. in Charleston, and it’s open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.

And it’s not just a trophy store.

“We can help you personalize items with your family, kids, pets, or team photo,” Browning said. “We can help you make those memories last with large canvas photos, photo blankets, ornaments, and pet urns.”

They can also customize T-shirts and blankets.

“We can offer silk screening and embroidery if a customer is in need,” Browning said. “We also rent tuxedos now for proms and weddings. We have suppliers for uniforms for all sports.”

A new service B&B Trophy can now offer is to customize one shirt.

“Many people asked if we could provide an order for one shirt,” Browning said. “We are happy to let people know that we now have a way to help customers do a lower quantity of shirts than silk screeners want to deal with. We can show customers a couple of different ways that we can provide this service.”

There are so many items that B&B Trophy can personalize, you might not believe it.

“We also have companies we partner with to provide any type of what we call novelty products,” Browning said. “Custom items for offices or businesses to hand out so people can remember them. Pens, coffee mugs, koozies, water bottles, etc. -- we can help you find any product you may want or need.”

A more extensive list of items that B&B Trophy can laser is headscarves, jackets, glassware, baseball bats, baseballs, footballs, hockey pucks and car mats. Additional items they can sublimate are sports towels, beach towels, seat cushions, photo slates, name badges, mouse pads, kitchen items, shower curtains, license plates, small and large flags and banners.

“It's important for the public to know that B&B Trophy is not just a trophy shop,” Browning said.

B&B Trophy started four years ago by three generations of the Browning family — Jeff, his dad Bill and Jeff’s son Michael.

The store does all these extra novelty items, but they also enjoy the trophy part of the business and getting to help someone celebrate an event or achievement. They can make a trophy that ranges in size from 6 inches all the way to 6 feet tall.

You can find them online at www.bandbtrophy.net

Beachy’s Counter Tops is located at 129 East State Route 133 east of Arthur. They offer granite, quartz and solid surface counter tops.

Jess says it’s worth the trip for the quality and service provided

“We are an established and unique business in a quaint community,” Jess said. “We are the only business within a 20-mile radius building laminate tops. You can buy locally with the ease of professionals helping you design your dream kitchen.”

Laminate brands used by Beachy’s are Formica, Wilsonart, Nevamar and Pionite. All work done in-house comes with a one-year warranty.

Beachy’s can also help its customers and install an undermount sink.

“We have been installing undermount sinks in laminate top for 14 years,” Jess said. “The sinks are an easy way to add a luxury feel to your kitchen.”

Noah Beachy started the business in 1960 with equipment and materials purchased from Rockome Gardens. After initially doing work through The Kitchen Design Center in Arthur, Beachy started selling counter tops directly to the public in 1963.

Leonard Beachy started working for his dad in 1971, and in 1983, Leonard purchased the business from his father. Leonard and his wife Judy Beachy still own the business. Leonard incorporated the business in 1992.

The Beachy’s currently have seven employees, and their staff possesses more than 150 years combined of counter top experience.

“Our employees have been with us for several years and know the professional experience of building laminate counter tops,” said Jess, the daughter of Leonard and Judy.

The business is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Customers can find more information at the business’ website www.beachyscountertop.com.

They don’t think you can find a better place to for your counter top needs.

“Here at Beachy’s Counter Tops, our goal is to not be the biggest, but the best at building counter tops, and we want you to love and be excited about the new look,” Jess said.

One local Amish family found that there’s still a need for salvage grocery items and they’ve been in this business for more than 45 years in Arcola.

Back on Sept. 1, 1969, Adlia Gingerich was inspired about this concept that there was a need for salvaged grocery items and he began running a small business out of his home’s basement. That’s when the Country Salvage store was born.

He explained that he would buy discounted grocery items that had sustained damage in shipping. He and his wife, Irene, would clean up the cans and containers and salvage what was still usable, price the items at a discount -- and sell.

From these humble beginnings, Adlia Gingerich, now 72, said he was “just trying to make a living.”

Today, Country Salvage continues to thrive as a salvage grocery store and Adlia and Irene Gingerich have been joined by one of their eight children who helps run the family business. New ideas have been added to the business, but their primary focus is still selling salvaged goods at low prices.

Richard Gingerich, 46, and his wife, Pauline, are in a business partnership with his parents. The younger businessman said he pretty much grew up in the grocery business. He became serious about the career at age 14.

At the Arcola store, bargain hunters could save an estimated 25-30 percent on their grocery bills. But the store might not always have particular items each week, as they rely on warehouses to supply the damaged goods.

The Gingeriches also buy “close out” items and “close dated” items and sell them at a discount for a quick turnaround. The process involves getting the bargains from warehouses, cleaning and sorting the products and re-pricing each item at a cost savings to their customers.

After moving the business out of the house, they established themselves just a short distance from where they are now in their first real store. But space requirements kept becoming a problem and after 11 additions to their original store, they built a new store in rural Arcola.

About a year ago, the family opened a newly constructed, more modern store, still located about four miles west of Arcola at 435 East County Road 200 North, close to the original store.

Customers come to the store from a 40-50-mile radius, the Gringeriches said. The new retail side of the store is about 12,500 square feet, with the same amount of space for the warehouse. The store they left recently encompassed 7,500 square feet.

“We simply buy grocery items for less and then sell these items for less. We have 22 employees, most of them are full-time workers,” Richard Gingerich said. “My dad is still involved in the business, as well as being part owner.”

In addition to salvaged items, the new store has fresh meat, sliced cheeses and fresh produce. It offers some fresh baked goods, baking supplies and candies, plus laundry and cleaning supplies for your home. It also has name brand products.

The store is located at 435 East County Road, 200 North, Arcola. They can be reached by telephone at 217-268-3698. Country Salvage is open from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Lathrop sees her business, Custom Fit Financial, as “a place for middle class folks to get information so they can make educated decisions about their financial futures. It's Main Street, not Wall Street.”

Custom Fit Financial is located at 600 Broadway Ave. in Mattoon.

“Unlike the big investment companies, I have the ability to spend lots of time with each client, making sure I understand their situation, and that they understand all their options,” Lathrop says. “It's not mass production here. I dropped my securities license at the beginning of this year to focus full-time on my passion, which is helping people realize how important it is to have at least a portion of their savings principal-protected, and then seeking out the very best financial vehicles to achieve that goal.”

Lathrop began working in financial services in 1980 with Mass Mutual by working in her dad’s pension consulting office. As her career progressed, she moved to working with individuals and couples on planning their finances so they’d be ready when it came time to stop working.

In 2000, she started working independently, which allowed her to offer products from many companies. Though she offers many products, that is not Lathrop’s priority.

“I am not primarily a product salesperson,” Lathrop said. “My first step is always to learn as much about people and their situation as possible so I can then recommend a custom fit for them. I am here to guide them through the complicated decisions they will need to make to be able to enjoy life after work. I pride myself in providing as much information as folks want to learn and continuing to take care of them as the years unfold.”

Lathrop cares about doing as much as possible to make sure her clients are financially secure. “We focus on foundational assets first,” Lathrop said of her approach. “We recognize the importance of growth but not at the expense of people's financial security. When you build a house, you put the foundation in first, not the roof. The same should be true of a good money plan. When financial storms come, your foundation will still be there for you.”

There are many topics that Lathrop tries to educate her customers about, including ways to create reliable income in retirement, strategies for taking their Social Security benefits, possible threats to their future financial security, and ways to protect against these threats.

“Clients tell me they feel pampered,” Lathrop said. “They say they can tell I've worked hard for them and that they've learned things they've never been told anywhere else. They tell their friends about me. That lets me know I'm on the right track!”

The phone number for the office is 217-234-7478, and Lathrop says she is happy to receive calls at any time from current or prospective customers.

“We are highly sensitive to the need for service after the sale, and we don't keep people waiting,” Lathrop said.

They can take care of an item “usually while you wait.”

Need something embroidered, give them one to two weeks, and they can handle that, too. As they say on their website, “If you’re looking for quality embroidery, then D to Z Sports is at your service.”

Bob and Jean Reid have owned D to Z Sports since 1997. They took over from Jean’s father Bud Diepholz, who started the business in 1978.

The store is located at 1611 Broadway Ave. in Mattoon, and it’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. It’s closed Sundays.

In addition to the personalization and embroidery, D to Z Sports provides gear for fans of Mattoon and surrounding schools in the local area.

“We provide the local schools a place to shop for fan apparel,” Bob Reid said.

D to Z Sports offers nearly 40 clothing brands, and some of the most popular are Adidas, Calvin Klein, Izod and VanHeusen. Currently, they have Oxford quilt-lined jackets for only $20.00.

A popular item at D to Z Sports is their letterman’s jackets, which can be personalized however the customer desires. Another part of the D to Z Sports business is selling trophies and awards, and they provide a vast selection when it comes to those as well.

“We inventory a lot of apparel in the store that isn't necessarily sports related,” Bob Reid said. “I tell people that we carry a little bit of everything, and if you don't see it, we can probably order it.”

A customer praised the vast sports equipment selection at D to Z Sports on the website Yelp.com. The poster named Professoreric M. described a search for trying to find a left-handed baseball glove for a relative, “which couldn't be found anywhere ... until we tried D to Z. Now the little ones don’t have to be oppressed by the right-handed majority and their anti-left agendas ... Down with hegemony. Up with D to Z Sports and their policy of Left-Handed Inclusion.”

Tracy H. said on Yelp.com about D to Z Sports, “Good customer service and reasonable prices.”

The Reids have one full-time employee and four part-time employees, and they think those people are one of the store’s strengths. Bob Reid said their staff provides “exceptional customer service” in addition to “many years of embroidery experience.”

First Mid's history started in 1865 as the nation experienced the ending of the Civil War, the abolition of slavery, and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln played a role in First Mid’s formation. The value of money fluctuated almost daily during the Civil War, and this plagued the war efforts of Lincoln and the federal government. Consequently, Congress established a uniform system of banking that began a new era of U.S. banking.

Subsequently, 32 men in western Coles County joined together in 1865 to organize the bank that would eventually become First Mid. They elected the first board of directors, and then C.M. Dole was elected as the first bank president.

The bank’s charter was established on April 17, 1865, under the name of First National Bank of Mattoon. The company has the distinction of being the first national bank in Illinois.

The original building for the First National Bank was located on Broadway Avenue. In 1965, a new building was constructed at 1515 Charleston Ave. and that location remains the main bank for First Mid in Mattoon to this day.

It was not until 1982 that First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. was formed and this put in place a vehicle for additional growth and the subsequent acquisitions of banks throughout Central Illinois during the 1980s and 1990s.

Presently, First Mid has 35 branches in 23 communities. In January, First Mid announced an agreement to acquire 12 Southern Illinois banking centers of Old National Bancorp.

In May 2014, First Mid began trading on NASDAQ, which was a milestone toward further enhancing the long-term value of the company and supporting growth initiatives, whether through acquisition or growth in the areas of banking, trust and wealth management, and insurance.

Dively said First Mid’s mission today is the same as it was 150 years ago: “To fulfill the financial needs of our communities with exceptional personal service, professionalism and integrity. So, serving our communities is the reason for our existence and we hope to be here for another 150 years.”

“We are adding to the option of nightlight in an area that is known to roll up the sidewalks at 5 p.m.,” Yoder said. “Visitors come to Amish Country of Illinois to shop, dine and experience the prairie and we are excited to provide them another great reason to stay.”

“The musical, comedy/drama will have the audience bent over laughing and then fighting back tears detailing intriguing relationships and unforgettable melodies that truly tug at your heartstrings. The storyline has characters that each of us can relate to in our own lives from at work, at home, at church,” Yoder said.

Performances will take place in the convention center of the Best Western PLUS Green Mill Village Hotel & Suites. The 68 guestroom hotel is decorated with local artwork from Rich Herschberger Gallery with furniture throughout the hotel from Simply Amish. “The spacious convention center is also a premiere special event and wedding facility with an outdoor patio that overlooks the pond and is also home to a multitude of community festivals and conventions,” Yoder said. Yoder also looks forward to bringing back the third annual Taste of the Prairie series again this summer. It will take place the last Saturday of each month from June through September going from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“This event is seeking crafters, quilters, food, beverages, baked goods, and unique home décor and gift vendors that creates one of the best craft and artisans events in the area,” Yoder said. “Space is also available for fundraisers and or hands-on opportunities like face painting.” The Green Mill Village development is located at the Arcola exit, off Interstate 57 and is 65-acre mixed-use development that brings together destination and regional travelers.

“Green Mill Village is focused on the growth and further development of both Arcola and this region,” Yoder said. “The properties that we have focus on taking care of the needs of the community or the loved ones within this community. Sometimes focusing on local business is just as much about ‘services to help the community’ as it is to be able to buy a product or good.”

Carriage Crossing Senior Living is also part of Green Mill Village. It offers 56 suites and the opportunity to maintain an active independent life without the burden of caring for everyday duties. Reflections, located within Carriage Crossing, offers seniors with dementia an opportunity to enjoy life while providing families and caregivers the peace of mind knowing that their loved one is in a safe, secure and home-like environment.

“Green Mill Village and its properties focus on sustainability and with our brand new theatre, beautiful hotel and assisted living facility, we are committed to the vitality of our local communities,” Yoder said.

Of Inyart’s 16 full-time employees, 10 of them have worked for him over 15 years, with four of those employees working there for over 20 years.

“It is our people and their proud tenure with the business — this is both an employee and company strength — that sets us apart from most of our competitors,” Inyart said. “It puts people at ease when they come in and see the same faces they have come to know and trust.”

Inyart purchased the Midas franchise in Charleston in 1990, and he purchased the Mattoon location in 1996. He’s been providing maintenance and repairs for cars and light trucks ever since.

The Inyart Tire & Auto Center locations in Charleston and Mattoon continue to offer a wide selection of products and services, including drive through on-demand oil change lanes. They stock over 500 Bridgestone, Firestone and Fuzion Tires with nearly all other major brands of tires available. Performing major repairs and maintenance services are ASE certified technicians.

Customers can also schedule a repair by going online to Inyart.com, or by calling either the Charleston or Mattoon store. The Charleston location can be reached at 217-345-3331, and the Mattoon phone number is 217-235-3331.

And when it’s time to pay for the work, Inyart Tire & Auto Center accepts all major credit cards, checks and cash. They also accept the NAPA Credit card and the Bridgestone card through CFNA. In addition, they direct bill major national fleet accounts including ARI, Donlen, Enterprise, Lease Plan, Wheels/MAP, PHH/Element, and GE Fleet services.

“Price is important, and I think we are very competitive here at Inyart Tire & Auto Center. But price is a delicate balancing act, as I like to say,” Inyart said. “At Inyart Tire & Auto Centers, we price our services to stand on their own and at a fair profit so we don’t have to play games with our customers.”

One recent addition to Inyart Tire & Auto Centers was a $60,000 investment in the latest computerized alignment equipment.

“Beyond being a stable employer, and a strong supporter of the communities we serve, we offer high quality automotive services that people expect and deserve,” Inyart said.

Inyart suggests finding someone here at home to help with your car, because there are many factors people don’t consider when they buy those products online.

“When you shop local, you only have one place — right here at home — to call or come back to if you have questions or if something is not quite right,” Inyart said. “Shipping and then the return shipping if there is an issue can lengthen and complicate the repair process. Buying parts or tires from one place and paying someone else to install them can muddy the waters of a warranty claim down the road and a customer could end up needlessly paying labor again.”

The location of Inyart Tire & Auto Center managed by Tyler Johnson in Charleston is 515 Lincoln Ave., and the location in Mattoon managed by Jim Long is at 1300 Charleston Ave.

Inyart takes pride in what his business does for the communities in Coles County.

“Your local businesses reinvest their profits back into the communities through local groups and organizations that help make our communities better,” Inyart said. “The sales taxes collected locally help support not only our state infrastructure and services, but many of the public services in our communities including fire protection, law enforcement, streets, and parks. When you shop local, your money stays local.”

Inside the office, the smell of percolating coffee wafts over you as the sound of typing comes from all corners of the room. The 30 full-time employees are busy.

“Our true product is our news and information that we produce,” JG-TC Publisher Craig Rogers says. “The news and information is the hard news things that happen in the communities. … Advertising is also information — things to do — and people rely on us for that.”

On your doorstep six days a week and on your electronic device every minute, the JG-TC provides vital information about Coles County and the surrounding area.

The JG-TC provides news through the print edition along with electronic options that continually evolve. There’s the website www.jg-tc.com with stories and an electronic edition of that day’s paper. The JG-TC also distributes information through email newsletters, Facebook and Twitter.

The Twitter handles are @JGTConline and @JGTCsports.

“Those are just channels of distribution for our true product,” Rogers says. “Less people are reading the print edition and many more are engaging with us through our digital channels that we have.”

JG-TC Editor Penny Weaver says she enjoys using the different outlets to distribute the news in a variety of ways.

“The Internet has enabled us to reach people in new ways and get information out there faster,” Weaver says. “The printed newspaper is still very valuable to go more in-depth on what’s going on in the world and what’s going on in our area. It just gives us more ways to reach people, and that’s pretty exciting for us.”

Just as important as reporting the news for the editorial side of the paper is the advertising department’s desire to help area businesses encourage customers to shop in and around Coles County.

“We’re very passionate about shopping local,” Rogers says. “We really believe that people should be staying local, supporting local businesses. … Our ad department is strategic about working with those businesses, and those that work with us have great success.”

The JG-TC provides many advertising services. It can manage a business’ social media accounts. Another advertising service is to manage a business’ reputation online on over 40 different business listing websites.

The primary advertising service remains advertisements in the newspaper and online.

“We reach more people within this community than any other single media, and because of our content, people are highly engaged with us,” Rogers says. “When people are highly engaged, that provides better results for our advertisers.”

The Courier, Daily Times, The Weekly Independent Gazette and Mattoon Journal merged over the years into the JG-TC, and since 1840, at least one of those publications brought news to Coles County.

That will not change anytime soon because of the people working away at their computers to bring information to their friends and neighbors in the Charleston/Mattoon area.

“The staff is really passionate about what they do,” Rogers says. “The people that work here really care about the community.”

The consumers of the print and digital news and information also care about the JG-TC, and Rogers appreciates that they care about their community and provide feedback.

“We want to know what issues are on their minds,” Rogers says. “We’re here to serve the businesses and the people that live in this community and work with them to help make a difference. This is a partnership.”

The Arthur native said he began his career in woodworking more than 30 years ago at a custom-built cabinet facility, working his way up from construction and finishing to sales and design. He later founded his own cabinet installation and remodeling business.

Helmuth said he eventually began selling a small amount of cabinets through this business as well, so he decided to open a showroom to expand his sales and to meet requests from Coles County area customers.

In June 2012, Helmuth opened his Kitchen Gallery showroom. This location is also the home of his Helmwood Construction cabinet installation and remodeling business. Helmuth and his wife, Esther, are the business owners.

"Customers can come in and see and feel the products without having to drive up to 30 minutes, 40 minutes or an hour," Helmuth said.

The showroom contains full-size kitchen and bathroom displays that feature some of the available cabinet and countertop materials. Helmuth said he offers custom-designed, Amish-made cabinets in 10 varieties of wood, with 25 different finishes.

"They are all-wood cabinets, not particle board," Helmuth said.

Cabinets can be paired with a variety of Beachy's Counter Tops laminates, or with countertops of solid wood, granite, cultured marble, quartz or other materials.

The Kitchen Gallery also offers room doors and mouldings, shower doors, customized marble showers, LED under-lighting for cabinets, and more, with plans to soon display a line of faucets in the showroom.

Helmuth said some customers can bring in specific plans for installing and remodeling projects, including magazine photos. He said others arrive with more general ideas for their projects.

"I basically take their ideas and come up with the design. If they are not sure what they want, I will come out to their home and do a consultation," Helmuth said. "We can work with you to make your dream a reality."

During home consultations, Helmuth can take all the necessary measurements if needed. He can then show customers a variety of possible design configurations via computer models. Helmuth said there are more than 30 standard paint colors available, and he can do color matching.

Helmuth said he has an in-house construction crew, as well as trusted local subcontractors for drywall, plumbing and back splash tiles. He said they have worked on projects ranging from a $1,500 bathroom remodel to a $200,000 home remodel.

"We try to work with our customers from start to finish," Helmuth said, adding that he also works with contractors hired directly by his customers.

Helmuth's showroom is located next to the Charleston Appliance Center, which offers refrigerators, ovens, ranges, washers, dryers, and more. Their appliances and his cabinets and counter tops have been paired together for various projects.

"We have a great working relationship with Charleston Appliance. We send customers to them and they send customers to us," Helmuth said.

The Kitchen Gallery is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, and Monday by appointment. More information is available by calling 217-345-0404, emailing thekitchengallery@consolidated.net or going online to www.kitchengallerycharleston.com/.

In addition to providing more than 150 Workforce-Ready and Transfer-Ready degree and certificate programs, the college provides short-term training programs to meet the needs of area employers.

“Lake Land is proud to contribute to the economic vitality of Illinois and our east central Illinois region,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “Lake Land College is committed to helping local businesses remain and thrive in our communities.”

According to a recent study conducted by the Illinois Community College Board, the total economic impact of Lake Land College on the regional economy in fiscal year 2012 was estimated at $38.6 million, providing 972 jobs.

The impact of Lake Land College on a graduate’s life is equally as significant. If you graduate from a Workforce-Ready program, you can expect a 20 percent return on your investment in a Lake Land College education, according to this same study.

Making this investment affordable and accessible to you is a priority for the college. In fact, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees voted in March to freeze tuition and fees at the 2014-2015 rates. One year at Lake Land College costs about $3,400. Included in that savings is Lake Land College’s textbook rental program. Only a handful of colleges in the country offer this $1,700 annual savings.

If you begin your bachelor’s degree at Lake Land College and live at home, you will save on average of $43,400. And, you can expect to do well when you transfer. According to the annual Transfer Follow Up Report, Lake Land College students do as well as or better than students who begin their bachelor’s degree at the same university as freshmen.

Look around! Chances are someone you work with, someone you do business with or the person you see in the mirror is part of the Laker Legacy that helps make our community so successful.

But, it was in 1966 when it all began, according to an embossed sign that hangs prominently inside the restaurant, now located at 1810 Charleston Ave., Mattoon, just east of KC Summers auto dealership. The front of the business and parking lot faces Charleston Avenue, but a back entrance is available from Broadway Avenue, in Mattoon.

Once inside, guests are greeted by plenty of stone and a Southwestern street scene with makeshift businesses that surround the dining and bar area including a barbershop, bank, hotel, bank, art gallery and a doctor’s office; and porches.

This expansive and tall dining area look is intended to give diners a festive street-like atmosphere. Khoshcheshmi said some of his 15 employees have been serving diners there for more than 20 years.

The original Little Mexico was the creation of Ruth and Harold Griffith, who came to Mattoon from New Mexico, and took up residence at Lake Paradise. There the couple opened a bait shop, according to a report from the JG-TC.

But, it was Ruth Griffith, who loved to cook in her spare time. She would create Mexican dishes such as enchilandas and tacos. Soon, she was selling such cuisine out of her home. She died in November at age 85.

She was born in Germany, and at the encouragement of friends who would frequent her home, was soon convinced she needed to open a restaurant. She did it all. She would cook and it wasn’t unusual to see her running the cash register, too.

It started very small and grew gradually. The restaurant has moved several times and has had different owners since the original founder, chef and proprietor of Little Mexico first opened up the business, Khoshcheshmi said. So, in 2016, he plans to turn the corner on an estimated 50 years of business.

After Griffiths, the restaurant was owned by Don and Chearie Myers, then Dona Sue Summers and her husband Robert Pearson, then Sal Khalighi from 1998 until 2012 when Khoshcheshmi joined him. Khalighi still has a partnership with Khoshcheshmi in the business today.

Khoshcheshmi came into the restaurant business after many years as the owner of a construction company back home. He continues to be a part of that business venture, but has staff to handle day-to-day operation.

After the Lake Paradise start, the Little Mexico moved to different locations including in a smaller building south of KC Summers, which later became a restaurant called Mexican Villa, but is now closed and is owned by Summers. It was also located at Lake Land Boulevard and Rudy Avenue in Mattoon, for a number of years, before it outgrew that location.

This brought about the help of Keith Summers, who purchased the current building and helped renovate it with this “street scene” concept and special colorful lighting that changes automatically, giving Little Mexico its latest home.

“It is important to me to keep the food and menu and tastes, as close as it was when the business started. This is a little treasure for Mattoon. People have literally grown up with this restaurant. There are decades of memories here,” Khoshcheshmi said.

He added that he’s more than just the business owner, he’s very hands-on involved with the staff at Little Mexico. “I am a part of this team. We use the best quality ingredients for our food. We make as much as we can by scratch. Nothing here is pre-cooked,” he said.

Different seasons affect the tastes in things like peppers, for example, at times, but overall the cooks at Little Mexico strive to keep a consistent and unique flavor that started way back in 1966, in Ruth’s kitchen at Lake Paradise.

“Our food is totally different here compared to other Mexican foods. Our salsa and enchilanda sauce and green chili sauce is something that nobody else has. But, for almost 50 years, people have been coming back and enjoying it and keeping our business sound. We have to respect that in our customers,” Khoshcheshmi said.

He added that he intends to add some new items to the menu in the future such as: Hawaiian fajitas, pizza, flat breads. The long-time traditions of Little Mexico such as Mr. Mexican and Mrs. Mexican and Little Mexican are still available.

Khoshcheshmi said Little Mexico can take groups of 45 people in its banquet or party room; and smaller parties of 20 in the veranda. Buffets may be requested in advance for these larger groups or each guest may order from the menu.

The business is open from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. You can request a reservation or find out more by calling 217-234-4535 or -4538.

Originally dubbed the Mitchell Brothers Shoe Store, Mack Moore Shoes was founded in 1890 on the north side of the Charleston square. Mack Moore started working part-time at the shoe store to help pay for his college education at Eastern Illinois University in 1917. He became a full-time employee after he graduated from EIU and in 1930 he became a partner. Then, in 1937, Moore purchased the business and re-named it Mack Moore Shoes.

For 65 years, the store was on the south side of the square. It was 2001 when the business moved to 305 West Lincoln Ave. with expanded hours and offerings. Its hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The store phone number is 217-345-3479.

Mack Moore Shoes was built on putting the customer first and offering full service. It’s kept that philosophy over the years and developed into a quality “healthy feet” store with shoes and accessories for work and recreation, too. The store has more than 200 styles and colors of shoes in more than 30 brands, standing behind all of the shoes it sells and regularly handling special orders for customers’ specific needs with styles and sizes.

In addition, Bill Moore is a certified pedorthist. His extensive experience in the store as well as his certifications inform his decisions on the best brands, insoles, and accessories that are brought into the store. Additionally, he is able to fill prescriptions for diabetic footwear and insoles as part of the Medicare program for diabetics. Bill is a third generation owner.

The shop fits diabetics for prescription shoes and stocks as many brands and styles of footwear that are made in America. It also carries an extensive selection of work boots and shoes including steel toe, ESD, EH, and slip-resistant options in many brands and styles. Notably, the shop takes its Shoe Mobile on the road, visiting local companies with specialty shoe requirements for their workers.

Mack Moore Shoes also is a full-time supporter of the local community. The business donates to and participates in many local groups and organizations that provide a wide range of services to the people in Charleston and Coles County. These include Rotary initiatives including heart scans for all high school students, the Charleston Parks & Recreation Department and more. Mack Moore Shoes earned the Community Service Award from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association in 2000 for its many years of supporting local youth sports.

Mack Moore Shoes continues to support the community as it has for the last 125 years and encourages its friends and neighbors to shop locally. Its six employees are knowledgeable in the brands the store carries and help customers in choosing the best shoes and fit for their individual needs. The store can special order shoes in many styles, sizes and widths.

“We are a full-service, customer-oriented family owned shoe store, which is very rare in this day and age,” said Bill Moore. “ We seek only quality products for our customers, made in America whenever possible, and then we stand behind these products 100 percent.”

Located at 1512 Marion Ave., Mark’s My Store is the only locally owned and operated supermarket in Coles County.

“Being locally owned allows us to interact with Mattoon community,” said owner Mark Elliott. “We proudly support Lake Land College Athletics, Mattoon Chamber of Commerce, Mattoon YMCA, Mattoon Food Center along with many youth basketball, baseball and softball organizations.”

The store is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. They have 15 full-time employees and 25 part-time employees.

Since Mark’s My Store is family owned, it’s a place where generations come together.

“Family-owned means that all of our children have worked with us at some point along with our parents,” Mark Elliott says. “This family atmosphere allows our employees to also be a part of our extended family.”

And there is nothing more important to owners Mark and Gretchen Elliott than the way they and their employees treat the store’s loyal customers. To them, customer service is the No. 1 priority.

“The reason we have a job is the fact that our customers walk through the doors,” Mark Elliott said. “We also bag the groceries for you and carry them out to the vehicle. If you are unable to visit us in person, we have our Home Delivery Service six days a week."

Mark and Gretchen Elliott have owned the business since 2010.

My Store originally opened in 1955 under the ownership of Pasquo and Richard Podeschi. A fire destroyed the original building in 1967, but the Podeschis rebuilt the store in the same location. In the mid-1980s, ownership was transferred to Rick Podeschi, who owned the store until the Elliotts took over in 2010.

The Elliotts do what they can to provide the best food for everyone who visits their store.

“Our meat department is inspected daily by the United States Department of Agriculture to verify cleanliness and proper sanitation procedures,” Mark Elliott said. “This keeps our customers safe and keeps our meat the freshest in town. No other supermarket offers this in Coles County.”

And for anyone with a sweet tooth, Mark’s My Store has that taken care of for you, too.

“The best kept secret about the store is our fresh bakery,” Mark Elliott said. “Although the bakery is not seen to the public, we bake fresh bread, cake and pies daily along with our famous homemade noodles.”

Tourism and travel had a value of $45 million in economic impact during 2014, according to Burgett.

To help bring visitors to the Mattoon community, there is over $100,000 in grant money invested into Mattoon through Mattoon Tourism. The grant money comes from funds generated by the city’s hotel-motel tax. The aim is to create or continue events in the city limits of Mattoon with priority given to events that lead to visitors staying overnight.

“Many of the events create over five times in return on investment numbers,” Burgett said.

The Mattoon Tourism and Arts Department is housed in the Mattoon Railroad Depot downtown at 1718 Broadway Avenue. Tourism and Arts is charged with managing the Lone Elm Room, which is located in the depot, and planning cultural events for the depot.

Tourism and Arts is part of the City of Mattoon and operates within the municipality.

“Tourism is an economic engine for the City of Mattoon,” Burgett said.

Burgett is the department’s only full-time employee, and there are two part-time employees. Burgett said she and the other two employees have “passion and enthusiasm for the community” along with a “willingness to work during holidays, weekends, whatever it takes to get the job done.”

They make that commitment and sacrifice because of a “love for the events we do.”

Mattoon City Council formed a Tourism Committee on September 17, 1991, and over the years, it has brought thousands of dollars and visitors to the community.

Burgett has pride in the work she and the staff do for the city and its residents.

“The role of Mattoon Tourism and Arts is to generate, support, and promote events in the city to drive visitors to Mattoon,” Burgett said.

It may sound simple, but that mission makes Bagelfest, Fourth of July and Lightworks into great, memorable events.

Renee England, the owner of the Merle Norman location in Mattoon, says her employees’ greatest strength is their “willingness to help people and attend to their wants.

“I think we are different because we have very personalized services,” England said. “We attend to each and every person that walks through our doors with quality American-made products.”

England purchased the Mattoon studio in 2005 from Fran Whitley. Prior to that, England operated the Merle Norman studio in Sullivan starting in 1995.

There are two part-time employees currently working for England.

England and her employees work to help customers find the shade of makeup for them. They can do a foundation check to determine the perfect shade. Employees can also provide a skin assessment and diagnose skin care needs. There are also the options of a 10-minute express facial or an express makeover. For any of these services, just call 217-234-4277 for an appointment.

The Mattoon location is located at 1608 Broadway Ave. in Mattoon.

The first Merle Norman studio opened in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1931. According to the Merle Norman website, there now are approximately 2,000 studios across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Other products available at Merle Norman are fragrances, sun protection, self-tanner, body creams, body wash, body scrubs, moisturizers, eye moisturizers, masks, exfoliations, toner and makeup removers.

In December 2014, Examiner.com recognized two Merle Norman products with its Best in Beauty Award — the lasting crème eyeliner and the dual action concealer. Earlier in 2014, Parents Magazine recognized Merle Norman’s Wicked Lash Mascara as the best mascara, and Self Magazine named Merle Norman’s Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub as the best body scrub.

There is also a line of products for men that includes a face cleanser, moisturizer and post-shave balm.

“Try before you buy” is a slogan that originated with Merle Norman, and it’s something England emphasizes to her customers in the Mattoon studio.

England describes her studio as “a place for ladies to go to get one-on-one

personal service.”

According to Standerfer, Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home is the leading short- and long-term care facility in Coles County with over 116 years of experience serving seniors in the area.

“Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home has become the trusted name for returning patients back to their lives,” Standerfer says. “Our therapy department not only provides inpatient therapy for you or your loved one but for outpatient therapy patients as well. Our highly skilled and professional staff is committed to getting you on the road to recovery and independence as quickly as possible using the RESTORE Therapy program. Our therapists utilize state-of-the-art equipment in our bright and inviting therapy gym to individualize treatments and programs that achieve maximum success and outcomes.”

Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home is located at 201 Lafayette Ave. East in Mattoon, which is a location Standerfer calls a “breath-taking location on sprawling, park-like grounds.”

Additional perks of the community are a chapel, private family rooms, a hair salon/beauty shop, respite care, hospice care, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

“Whether they are here for short-term rehabilitation or long-term, every person is treated as family,” Standerfer said. “Odd Fellow-Rebekah is unique in that a large portion of the staff has been a part of the organization for years. The care residents receive here is focused on each person as an individual and based on their needs not only physically but emotionally. I am proud to be a part of the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home family as we continue caring for our community for many years.”

Many years is right. Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home started in 1898

“Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home's original building was part of a private community consisting of a farm, housing for staff, and ‘The Old Folks Home,’” Standerfer said. “The old three-story building was torn down and replaced in 1976 with our current single-story building. The Harmony Center, a memory care unit, was added in 1996.”

The facility is owned by the Odd Fellows Organization and the Rebekah Assembly of Illinois and is operated by Heritage Enterprises.

Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home also works closely with health and wellness organizations throughout Coles County.

“Our facility has built trusting relationships with Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, Lake Land Community College and the Lake Land and Lakeview School of Nursing, gaining the latest information on geriatric nursing from the students,” Standerfer said. “We participate as an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce and other charitable events. We also have volunteers from Eastern Illinois University working with our residents. Our facility has many community relationships that provide continuing individual care for our nursing home residents.”

All that collaboration is about creating the best care for patients.

“Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home has a long tradition of providing quality nursing home care in central Illinois,” Standerfer said. “Having been a fixture in the community since 1898, not only to fraternal members but to the entire senior community, our facility has gone through several expansions to bring us to where we are today. However, we still remain committed to providing one simple thing — quality care that families can consistently count on and trust.”

The business, located at 1900 Western Ave., offers a location for customers to buy furniture at discounted prices while also buying furniture from those in the Mattoon area.

“Once Again Interiors provides an outlet for the community to consign their furniture and home décor items instead of going through the headache of a rummage sale, selling online, or just giving up and giving the items away,” owner Gretchen Cook said. “I couldn't tell you how many times my consigners call and thank me for their check in the mail. They say, ‘It was such a pleasant surprise, thank you so much.’”

And Cook has seen people that come in looking to buy furniture benefit just as much, too.

“Once Again Interiors provides a discounted way of furnishing homes with everything from kitchen tables to artwork,” Cook said. “Everyone is happy with their purchases and can't believe how low the prices are. I'm pretty sure that at any given time a person could furnish a small home for around $1,000.”

The items available for purchase include sofas, chairs, accent tables, lamps, dinette sets, buffets, dressers, armoires, headboards, desks, and bookcases. The store also offers home and office décor including pottery, vases, wall art and many other decorative items.

Items that Cook will not accept are appliances, electronics, console TV entertainment centers, bedding, mattress and box springs, dishes, drink ware, draperies/window treatments, along with any items that exhibit wear and tear or are unclean.

“There is a wide variety of styles available as well as anything from antique to newer pieces,” Cook said. “Quality is also present in the vintage pieces. I have found that the new furniture that people are buying at big-box stores is not high quality. … At least see what we have before going out and buying new; you may be surprised at the amount of money you can save and the quality of furniture you can get.”

Though Cook considers her business a consignment store, it’s not the entirety of what she sells.

“Consignment is only about 70 to 80 percent of the store at any given time,” Cook said. “My husband and I spend many hours every week at estate sales and any other outlet to fill the store. This is the case throughout the year, but it is especially hard to get consignment when winter is bad.”

Because of this approach, the inventory is always changing.

“I have many customers that come in on a weekly basis because there is always something new,” Cook said. “Many return customers come in and can't believe how much it has changed since their last visit. We offer items that are ready to be used, and we offer items that can be refinished and/or repurposed.”

The consignment policy for Once Again Interiors is a 60-day consignment period, with after 30 days the items being marked down 10 percent. At 60 days, the consigner has the option of going another 30 days at 50 percent off.

“This allows the store to have a high turnover rate of merchandise,” Cook said.

The store’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cook takes consignment by appointment on Monday through Thursday.

“We are in a great location with great parking and easy wheelchair access,” Cook said. “We also have an independent delivery man that is on call if you need your item or items delivered.”

Sav-Mor Pharmacy is located at 596 South Oak St. in Neoga, but if you want your prescription delivered for free to your home or office in Neoga or the surrounding area, you can call 217-895-2238.

“Most people don’t know we offer free delivery to the surrounding area and free mail-out service,” Hill said.

Sav-Mor Pharmacy’s hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and it’s open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. It’s closed Sunday.

There are many services that Neoga Sav-Mor Pharmacy offers in addition to prescriptions. It also offers home medical equipment, diabetic shoes, home oxygen, and vaccinations. It also serves as a gift shop with Hallmark items. On top of all that, they do UPS shipping.

“We are different, because we can offer almost everything a patient might need right here in our small town,” Hill said.

While Sav-Mor tries to expand its services, the personal service is the most important aspect of the business.

“I think we add to the community by being involved with our customers and always being easily accessible to them,” Hill said.

Sav-Mor Pharmacy has been in business for 30 years, and it’s been at its current Neoga location since 2002, according to Hill.

There are four employees at the Neoga location

“All our employees are local residents and know all our customers by name,” Hill said. “They are all caring young ladies.”

Customers can also use the MobileRX Pharmacy app to manage their prescription with Sav-Mor. The app is described as allowing pharmacy customers access to prescription refills through their smartphones. MobileRx allows prescription data to be downloaded to the phone and submit refill requests electronically when they are due. Once a prescription is submitted through MobileRx, the filling process begins immediately.

Another option for prescription refill with Sav-Mor is through their website www.savmor.com/live/

Also through the Sav-Mor website, people can submit photos from their computer and send them to be processed at Sav-Mor where they pick up their printed photos.

Local businesses offer shoppers unique products and services. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences and respond more quickly to the needs of local customers, stocking products to meet the changing population’s needs. Research shows that small business owners compete by focusing on customer service and quality goods. Local business employees take the time to get to know their customers, for they know that repeat business is vital to their survival.

Local merchants live in the community and are committed to its future. Local entrepreneurship fosters economic innovation and prosperity. The success of locally owned, independent businesses provides real-life inspiration to our young people, proving that they can stay in Charleston and prosper on their own terms.

In an increasingly standardized world, it is important to support what is unique and special about our community. I feel strongly that the support, retention and expansion of our local businesses will only enhance our overall economic future. By shopping locally, you are investing in Charleston and helping to foster a climate that is more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new investment.

Why is shopping local so important? Simple -- it keeps money in our community, it employs our friends, neighbors, sons and daughters. Plus, it makes our community a more fun and interesting place to live. An economic study shows that Coles County consumers spend $945 million dollars annually on consumer goods and services. Of that amount, $221 million dollars leave this county to be spent elsewhere. That’s 23% or almost 1 in every 4 dollars!

When we choose to spend outside of our community, it results in less local sales tax to support our schools, streets and infrastructure, police and fire protection. As the convenience of Internet shopping entices us to spend elsewhere, local businesses need to cut back, perhaps lay off an employee or two, reduce their support for a local ball team or youth program. How much does Amazon.com give back to our community? How many of our friends and neighbors do they employ locally? Absolutely zero.

By shopping local, we can build a vibrant and prospering community. If each adult in Coles County committed to spending as little as $75 locally on Christmas shopping, that would be over $3.2 million dollars staying here and benefiting our community. Perhaps our local businesses would hire another one of our friends and neighbors, donate more to local charities, and expand their business into bigger storefronts on our main streets. That would be a better community for all of us.

Enjoy reading about these businesses that care. And support them by shopping local!

Craig Rogers, JG-TC Publisher

Mattoon is on the move. To keep moving in a positive direction, we need your help to support our local businesses by shopping local. Each purchase that you make helps local businesses employ our friends and neighbors. Profit earned by local businesses stays in our community. Shopping local also keeps sales tax dollars in our community helping to finance schools, streets, fire and police protection.

So please, before you consider making a purchase online or driving to another community, consider visiting one of our local Mattoon businesses and give them the opportunity to serve you.

Tim Gover, Mayor

It's part of the 126-store chain's commitment to growing and transforming communities for the better, he said.

"We really, strongly believe in order to be in a community, you need to be part of the community," Eggleston said. "So that's really why a lot of times we've gotten involved with so many different organizations -- you've got to be able to give back."

Each year Slumberland works with area organizations including The Fields Church, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army, as well social workers in schools, to identify needy families. Then the store throws a party in December, during which employees deliver the mattresses to recipients. While the store presently provides all the materials itself, Eggleston said other Slumberlands partner with Wal-Mart or similar stores to provide items such as blankets with the mattresses; the store is considering such efforts for future events, he said.

Making Homes for the Holidays isn't the only community event Slumberland supports. To that end, the store donates 10 percent of all profits to area causes and charities, Eggleston said. Slumberland is heavily involved in area sports, sponsoring Eastern Illinois University athletics, Mattoon JFL, the Mattoon Area Family YMCA and Charleston Chill Softball. The store also donated to the effort to repair the Mattoon High School tennis courts.

The store is also involved in charity events such as Big Brothers Big Sisters' Bowl for Kids Sake and Camp New Hope fundraisers. It’s a member of the Mattoon Rotary. Store manager Robert Gooden is also involved in the Mattoon Area Public Action to Deliver Shelter, Eggleston said.

On the business side, Eggleston is vice president of the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce Board. His hope is to encourage businesses to not just write off Mattoon.

"If you grow up in a small town it doesn't seem like you have as much, or as many opportunities," he said. "But there's a lot of things to do, actually, in Mattoon. A lot of quality businesses too."

Slumberland has a selection of brand name mattresses, including Sealy and Tempur-Pedic, as well as chairs and sofas, including La-Z-Boy. Much of the furniture is presented in room sets, so that anyone can come through and find complementary couches, chairs and furnishings.

The chain's wide reach allows the store to provide a large range of furniture in a timely manner; the store receives three semis a week from the distribution center, so if customers see something but can't find it in a specific color or model, Slumberland can get it to them quickly, Eggleston said.

Furniture also comes with a 30-day in-home satisfaction guarantee as well as a 30-day lowest price guarantee, Eggleston said.