Mother’s Day is right around the corner – falling on May 11 The holiday gives us a chance to spend time with family and show moms just how much they mean to us Maybe you plan on thanking your mom for the impact she’s made in your life or are celebrating as a new mom there are plenty of Peoria-area restaurants ready to make it a memorable occasion if you are searching for a perfect Mother’s Day meal If your restaurant is open for Mother’s Day brunch, email details to CWaigand@gannett.com Details: Seatings for Ardor’s Mother’s Day brunch are available from 8 a.m The meal costs $45 per person and features breads with preserves and butter and dessert for the table to share Each person will be able to select an entrée The tentative menu lists entrees including: Reservations can be made online at https://www.exploretock.com/ardor-after-dark/ Dining room and patio seating is available but guests for the patio must be 21 years or older Website: https://ardorbp.com/ Details: A Mother’s Day buffet is available from 10:30 a.m The buffet costs $18.95 per person or $10.95 for children 12 and under The buffet selection will feature items such as: The restaurant’s regular menu will also be available Address: Go to the locations tab at https://avantispeoria.com/ to find various storefronts Website: https://avantispeoria.com/ Hungry for more Peoria food news? Sign up for PJStar Dining Barrack's Hospitality Group Banquet Center & CateringDetails: Mother’s Day brunch will be served from 9:45 a.m Children 3 years old or younger can dine for free a dessert table with a chocolate dipping fountain and more Reservations can be made by calling (309) 692-3990 from 9 a.m Website: https://caterinn.com/ Details: On Facebook The restaurant will be open for regular hours Website: https://bloodymarybrunchcompany.com/ Previously: Peoria brunch business opens with southern-inspired menu and the restaurant's regular menu will be available Address: The restaurant operates multiple Peoria-area storefronts. Find a nearby location at https://childerseatery.com/locations/ Website: https://childerseatery.com/ Details: Cyd’s is hosting a ticketed Mother’s Day brunch which will feature a breakfast buffet pastries and spring cocktail and mocktail menus The meal costs $54 for adults and $25 for children between 4 and 12 years old Tickets for the brunch can be purchased at https://reservations.getwisely.com/cyd-s-in-the-park The price is listed as $25 – with the cost being deducted from the final bill No refunds are available for cancellations made after 10 a.m Website: https://www.cyds.biz/ More: Peoria food inspections for March 2025 customers will find a Mother's Day lunch buffet from 11 a.m Reservations are accepted and can be made by calling (309) 692-0800 "Let us do the cooking while you make the memories," the restaurant wrote on Facebook Website: https://doubleapizza.com/ Details: Eggcellent Cafe will be open from 6:30 a.m Website: https://www.eggcellentcafe309.com/ More: Tazewell County food inspections for March Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Gebbys-Family-Restaurant-100057205249250/ Details: A brunch buffet will be available at Herold’s Pizza Oven from 10 a.m The buffet will feature various breakfast items – including breakfast pizza – as well as regular pizza Large groups should make a reservation by calling (309) 682-3722 Website: https://heroldspizzaoven.com/ Details: The Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m The meal costs $21.99 for adults and $12.99 for children between 3 and 10 years old Children 2 years old and younger can dine for free Diners will find a variety of breakfast dishes and entrees Reservations are required and should be made by calling (309) 682-5419 Website: https://www.ivyclub.org/ Details: The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m Website: https://www.jalapenosmetro.com/ 'Come celebrate': Mexican restaurant prepares to open Downtown Peoria location Johnny's Italian SteakhouseDetails: At Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse guests can enjoy a Mother’s Day meal from 10 a.m $20 for kids 6 to 12 and is free for children 5 years old or younger Customers can call (309) 692-3887 to make a reservation Website: https://johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/east-peoria/ Details: “Make your Mom Queen for the Day” Jubilee Cafe said in a recent Facebook post with a variety of meal options to choose from A breakfast menu will be available all day and the restaurant’s full menu will be served starting at 11 a.m Over two-dozen pies are available for carryout Customers can also make reservations for a family-style dinner which will feature ham Reservations can be made by calling (309) 691-7778 Website: https://www.facebook.com/jubileecafekickapoo/ The restaurant will serve its regular menu Website: https://lepeep.com/ Details: The restaurant will be open from 7:30 a.m Website: https://www.facebook.com/MikesCobblerCorner Oliver's in the HeightsDetails: At Oliver’s in the Heights a Mother’s Day brunch will be available from 9 a.m “Treat your mom (or yourself!) to a feast she deserves,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook The brunch costs $22 for adults and $13 for children Drink specials like the momtini and wonderous woman will also be available Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (309) 681-1779 Website: https://www.oliversintheheights.com/ More: Central Illinois BBQ business closes with 'a heavy heart,' plans to continue as pop up One WorldDetails: One World will be open from 7:30 a.m on Mother’s Day and will serve its regular menu Website: https://www.oneworld-cafe.com/ Details: Three reservation times – 10 a.m. – are available for Mother’s Day brunch at Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino $16 for kids 4 to 12 years old and is free for children 3 and under Veterans and those who are 55 or older can receive a 10% discount Customers will find menu items such as breakfast casserole Reservations can be made online at https://www.ticketweb.com/event/mothers-day-brunch-reservations-par-a-dice-hotel-casino-tickets/14276843?pl=BoydGaming or by calling (800) 547-0711 Website: https://paradice.boydgaming.com/ Shelly B's CafeDetails: Mother’s Day brunch will be available from 10 a.m The establishment is serving an “ALL YOU CAN EAT” selection for $8.95 More: Popular Quad Cities ice cream brand opening in Tazewell County Details: “Celebrate the moms in your life with style and bottomless mimosas — our gift to you!” Seasoned Little Eatery wrote on its Facebook page Mother’s Day brunch will be available from 11 a.m Mimosas will be available in various flavors Reservations can be made by calling (309) 839-2992 from 11 a.m Website: https://www.eatatsle.com/ Details: Sunset Hills Eatery is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch with seatings at 10 a.m while the brunch costs $14.99 for kids 12 and under “She gave you life — the least you can do is give her waffles,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook Reservations are required and can be made by calling (309) 347-7553 ext Website: https://www.sunsethillsgc.com/ The restaurant’s regular menu will be served all day and a brunch menu will be available until 3 p.m Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (309) 713-2619 or at https://www.opentable.com/r/thyme-kitchen-and-craft-beer-peoria Website: http://thymepeoria.com/ 'Olympics' of BBQ: Chillicothe business 'beyond excited' about success at barbecue contest Details: Untamed Chef will be open from 11 a.m Its Mother’s Day menu features various starters Various cocktails and mocktails are also available Reservations can be made by calling (309) 231-0906 Website: https://untamedchefcooking.com/ Washington Family Restaurant will be open from 6 a.m Details: Wildlife Prairie Park is hosting two Mother’s Day brunches catered by Hy-Vee An early brunch will be hosted from 10 a.m until noon and will feature various breakfast foods The brunch costs $45 for park members 13 and older and $22 for members between 3 and 12 years old it is $50 for adults and $25 for kids 3 to 12 years old Reservations can be made by going to https://wildlifeprairiepark.org/events/mothers-day-brunch and clicking the “sign up” button Website: https://wildlifeprairiepark.org/ More: Celebrate the majesty of midwestern nature at Wildlife Prairie Park in Illinois Details: The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m Website: https://50sdinerpeoria.com/ are compiled from information on file with Peoria Peoria: Joseph and Elsa Gianakos to Nicole Hardin West Peoria: Allenrod Properties LLC to Huston Buhs Peoria: Craig and Ilean Thompson to Acceleration Ventures LLC Dunlap: Commerce Bank to Peoria Heights Properties LLC Peoria: Taylor Cordle to Hannah Sutton and Ryan Noll West Peoria: Federal National Mortgage Association and Servicelink LLC to Krystal McGhee More: Real estate sales in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties for April 26, 2025 Peoria: Micah Bouillon to Jeremiah Edwards and Hunn K Peoria: Teresa Fauth to Michal Mendoza and Maria V Peoria: Christina Constantinidou to James E Peoria: Thomas Keith and Jessie Yoskin Keith to Steven and Megan Howard Peoria: Derek and Mary Tanis to Jeannine M Chillicothe: Craig Tiezzi to Kyle and Jessica Anderson Edwards: Capstone Construction of Central Illinois LLC to John P Peoria: Peoria1 Holdings LLC to Villa Ridge LLC Pekin: Kathy and Lester Wernowsky to Isaak Dorough Parcel Numbers 12-12-20-105-001 and 12-12-20-105-002 East Peoria: Mackenzie and Matthew Dutton to Nicholas J More: Real estate sales in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties for April 19, 2025 Mackinaw: Laura Lorentzen to Laura and Michael McCarthy East Peoria: Driton Ramadani to Nathan Kloter East Peoria: Cherissa and Justin Hoffman to Andrew T East Peoria: Washburn Real Estate LLC Series Flip to Jamie and Landon Hickman Minier: Brady and Melissa Cremeens to Brian and Lindsey Weihmeir Washington: Troy Kerrn to John II and Sarah Hintz Parcel Numbers 12-12-14-300-005 and 12-12-23-100-006 Pekin: GDM Properties LLC to Midwest Circle LLC More: Improper handwashing and chicken on the floor: Peoria food inspections for March 2025 Metamora: Emily Moberly and Kimberly Jurick to Jacob W East Peoria: Steven and Susan Fedash to Derek and Kayla Tipsword Metamora: Kevin and Tricia Linzenmeyer to Cody Upts More: Why traffic patterns could complicate plans for new businesses at busy Peoria intersection Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPEORIA COUNTY (25News Now) - The Peoria County Coroner has identified the body of a woman found in the Illinois River as a Peoria Heights woman was identified through her fingerprints and the Illinois State Police Crime Lab Coroner Jamie Harwood thanked the public for their continued attention to this case and said his office and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is working to answer questions The sheriff’s office responded around 2:30 p.m after a female body was found in the river by an employee The Pekin Fire Department responded with a boat and retrieved the body Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Monday’s windy conditions made the recovery efforts difficult So that was of the utmost importance,” he said “I am grateful for the Pekin Fire Department and the job that they did and keeping her where she was because it was difficult Detectives and the coroner’s office are working to identify the woman and the cause of death The sheriff’s office said the woman appeared to be in the water for at least 24 hours before being found Anyone with information that could help identify the woman or any other helpful information is asked to call Detective Hoffman at 309-657-5532 Information can also be sent via CrimeStoppers and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office mobile app Timber Hollis Fire Department and Illinois State Conservation Police also responded (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) Nellum was found dead in the river near the Mozaic Fertilizer factory in the 8700 block of Cargill Road The circumstances of her death are still being investigated "Understandably, there are a lot of questions surrounding this case, and we are working with the Peoria County Sheriff's Office to answer them specifically for her surviving family and for public interest," Harwood said "These things take time; investigations are intentionally tedious and time-consuming Peoria Heights Police Chief Dustin Sutton said a missing persons report was filed with the Peoria Heights Police Department on Jan The department used a drone and infrared technology to try and located Nellum but were unsuccessful Sutton said Nellum's mother reported her daughter missing and told police she had been having mental health challenges before she packed a bag turned off her location and left their home on the 1500 block of Gardener Lane in Peoria Heights The mother told police she left home and headed toward the hiking trails at the Forest Park Nature Center around 11 p.m Sutton said it did not appear that Nellum was in danger the night she was reported missing and the mother informed police she had friends in an apartment complex nearby More: Music rights group lawsuit accuses Peoria bar of playing unlicensed music Harwood said he spoke with her family members on Tuesday "Our questions to family members 'When was the last time you saw her What was her state of mind?' and we dig into medical history issues albeit it a medical problem or pyschological issue whatever that may look like," Harwood said "But we dive into the depths of all of that We do share that information with the sheriff's department because it's relevant to their investigation and then they kind of take it from there." Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said earlier that it appeared as though she had been in the water for 24 hours before she was found This is the second time in less than a year that someone has been found dead by a Mosaic employee in the river. Seiarra DeLasso, 37, was found on May 24 in the Illinois River after drowning at least 24 hours prior Harwood said that Nellum and DeLasso were found in the "exact same spot" in the Illinois River "I've been in this job for eight years and I've been in the same spot in the same year twice go back the other eight years and I've never been there," Harwood said "I think from a conspiracy theorist I think we could line up a whole different reasons but I think from reality I would call it coincidence Harwood said he does not feel there is any public safety issue related to this case at this point but said that is something that the sheriff's department will investigate "If there was a threat to the safety of the public I think we would have let people know that by now," Harwood said "I don't really know what angle the sheriff's department is going at right now but historically speaking there is generally not a public safety issue with cases like this." Harwood said that piece of things remains to be investigated right now He harkened back to the death of Jelani Day from Bloomington who was found dead in the Illinois River under mysterious circumstances in 2022 "I think about the Jelani Day case from Bloomington-Normal a few years back and there's still a lot of questions about how he ended up in the water and a lot of that case remains under investigation "What we hope is that we get to a place with our investigation here that we don't have anything that is unresolved." More: Thunderstorms, snow and more: Severe weather predicted today for the Peoria area The 12 Bar Lounge announced earlier this year that “Exciting things are brewing.” The rooftop bar, situated at 4500 N. Prospect Road in Peoria Heights, said in March it was under new management. Information about the change was posted to the business’ Facebook page and website 12 Bar Lounge said it would enhance its food options while also serving signature cocktails and offering an exciting lineup of live music The business announced that its new menu was available in a Facebook post on April 16. According to its website, the menu features dishes such as: Dining with a view: These Peoria-area restaurants are my favorites for outdoor dining. Below 12 Bar Lounge, the website said Fusion 45 was “transforming into a events center only” and would be available for business dinners “Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or hosting an intimate gathering Fusion 45 will provide the perfect setting for unforgettable moments,” the online announcement said The 12 Bar Lounge can also be rented for private events Dig into the latest local food news: Sign up for PJStar Dining family members are asking the public for financial help Dennis was found dead inside the burnt-out home not breathing and with no heartbeat before she was pronounced dead at 1:53 p.m According to Peoria County Corner Jamie Harwood both Dennis and Diane suffered immediate and severe smoke inhalation causing them to go unconscious and incapacitated 25News reached out to family members for comment on the couple “We are devastated from the loss of Dennis and Diane from this accidental house fire and the children and grandchildren do appreciate any help to the GoFundMe account,” Hensley said Diane and Dennis met in 1989 when Diane was working at the Apollo Mart on Knoxville Avenue Dennis was a frequent visitor of the shop and chatted with Diane regularly Diane’s lifelong friend knew Dennis and introduced them one evening Peoria Heights firefighters were called to a home in the 4400 block of North California Avenue Mutual aid was requested after reports of explosions exposure issues and the uncertainty of entrapment The Salvation Army provided resources to crews at the scene A neighbor described the two victims as “simple” and “active” people who had lived in the home for decades Peoria Heights Fire Chief Dan Decker confirmed that the home is a total loss Decker said the home is being demolished for ‘safety hazard’ reasons Peoria Heights firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Peoria Limestone and Chillicothe fire departments You can watch 25News - any newscast, anywhere - streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPEORIA HEIGHTS (25News Now) - Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood has identified the husband and wife who died in a house fire in Peoria Heights Thursday was found deceased inside the burnt-out home They were also burned around 90 percent of their bodies The Peoria Heights Fire Department is saying the fatal house fire Thursday is believed to have been accidental JIMAX Construction was called to perform demolition The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshal You can watch 25News - any newscast, anywhere - streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPEORIA HEIGHTS (25News Now) - Two people are dead after a house fire in Peoria Heights Harwood confirmed that the two victims were a husband and wife and the autopsy for the two will be on Friday One died at home while the other died at the hospital They’re still distinguishing the hotspots before we can go inside and make an identification,” said Coroner Harwood The cause of the fire is currently unknown It’s being demolished for ‘safety hazard’ reasons The Peoria County Coroner has identified the body found in the Illinois River Monday with the help of the Illinois State Police Crime Lab his office was able to identify the body as Alexsus Nellum The identification was determined through fingerprint analysis Nellum’s body was found Monday afternoon by an employee of the Mosaic Company’s facility in the 8700 block of Cargill Road Officials with the sheriff’s office believe Nellum may have been in the water for at least 24 hours Harwood says his office is working with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office to determine more details about the cause and manner of Nellum’s death “These things take time; investigations are intentionally tedious and time-consuming,” Harwood wrote Become a WCBU sponsor The village of Peoria Heights is one of the smaller municipalities in the Peoria area Peoria Heights has a strong business corridor and leaders say the village deals with some of the same crime issues neighboring Peoria does the village says it tries to pay its employees competitive salaries in order to attract and retain talent Illinois statute mandates municipalities participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to publicly post a list of all employees making more than $75,000 in total compensation The Journal Star is reviewing those public documents and sharing contents of the reports with readers for transparency These are the highest-paid employees in Peoria Heights according to the most recent compensation report chief of police: $134,701.84Dustin Sutton has been with the Peoria Heights Police Department for 30 years and has served as its chief for 27 He is both the police chief and village administrator fire chief: $125,000Decker was hired in 2023 to lead the Peoria Heights Fire Department Decker is also a member of the East Peoria City Council 2 ranking member of the Peoria Heights Police Department He has been with the department for 25 years More: These city of Washington employees had the 10 highest salaries in the most recent budget village administrator: $93,600 (stipend)Sutton wears two hats in the village serving as both its administrator and chief of police He was named to the administrator role on an interim basis in 2018 and was soon after given the role full time by the Village Board More: He has two major jobs for Peoria Heights. Why the village prefers the nontraditional setup Crider is a grade 3 sergeant with the Peoria Heights Police Department More: Who are Pekin's highest-paid city employees? These 20 have salaries over $100K a year Martin is a grade 2 sergeant with the Peoria Heights Police Department Boyd is a grade 1 sergeant with the Peoria Height Police Department Powers is a grade 5 patrol officer with the Peoria Heights Police Department More: 15 Morton employees made over $100,000 in 2023, according to village records Brackney is a grade 4 patrol officer with the Peoria Heights Police Department Wilson is a grade 4 patrol officer with the Peoria Heights Police Department More: These 12 city of Peoria employees have the highest base salaries parties or music — the Peoria area has its share of St at the corner of Monroe Street and Hancock Street in downtown Peoria Main Street to Adams and ending at Adams and Hamilton Kelleher's Irish Pub and breakfast will be served beginning at 8 a.m featuring corned beef and cabbage and other Irish favorites and the street will be blocked off for a street party Kenny's Westside Patrick's Day and their 12 year anniversary Food specials will include biscuits and gravy and corned beef dinners The party will also include live Irish music all day with Still Shine St. Patrick's Day parties at both Crusens locationsThe Crusens locations at 426 E Both locations will serve breakfast and will also have food and drink specials throughout the day Crusens War Drive will feature live music by Shawn Smith at 11 a.m. Crusens Farmington Road will feature live music from Revel in Red at 3 p.m More: Here are 10 fish fries to check out during Lent in 2025 in the Peoria area Pour Bros. Craft Taproom and Slow Hand Craft BBQ will host a three-day party starting on Saturday The festivities will include live entertainment For more information and a full schedule of events Oliver's in the Heights Breakfast will be served and other food and drink specials will be available including corned beef sandwiches and corned beef totchos Live music from Funk Yard will begin at 3 p.m The Fox Pub for Irish breakfast and Sham Rock & Roll live broadcast with WWCT from 6 to 9 a.m Lunch will include corned beef and cabbage and other Irish features The event will also include live music and performances by Irish dancers Jimmy's 43rd St. Patrick's DayJimmy's Bar will host its 43rd St Food will be available starting at noon and includes corned beef More: St. Patrick's Day, concerts and comic convention: 21 things to do around Peoria in March The Putt Club will have a Putting & Pizza Party from noon to 7 p.m The event will include a buffet with pizza $15 for ages 4-12 and free for children ages 3 and under Adults ages 21 and over can received a free pint of green beer with purchase Kuchie's on the Water Food specials will include corned beef and cabbage The event will also include drink specials and Irish music all day Peacock's Pub The event will feature corned beef and cabbage dinners along with other great food and drink specials St. Patrick's bash in ChillicotheCastaways Bar & Grill Reuben sandwiches and pizzas and corned beef horseshoes The event will also include drink specials and entertainment from DJ Mara at noon More: 'A staple to the community': Beloved central Illinois restaurant set to reopen after fire the community will find a new BBQ brunch option in Peoria Heights customers will find menu items including:   The announcement said drinks such as beermosas cold brew cocktails and bloody marys will also be available The Peoria Heights barbecue business – which was a finalist for best BBQ restaurant in the 2024 Community’s Choice Awards – said it will be open Sundays moving forward More: The best fried chicken restaurants in Peoria as voted on by readers A Peoria Heights man was arrested early Saturday morning after he allegedly shot another man while he was lying in bed with his family at a Peoria apartment complex was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm after he reportedly fired bullets outside of several apartments at Lexington Hills Apartments in the 3400 block of West Fallen Oak Lane early Saturday morning More: Amid demolition, what happened to the osprey nest atop the old McClugage Bridge span? According to the Peoria Police Department officers responded to the scene at 12:25 a.m they found a 26-year-old man with an apparent gunshot wound He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Police eventually located a vehicle believed to be connected to the shooting in the 100 block of East Hines Place Officers saw three people leave the car and flee on foot but the whereabouts of the other two suspects remain unknown A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun inside At a Monday detention hearing, prosecutors with the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office said the man's girlfriend told police that she was in bed with him and her two children when they heard a series of five gunshots The man then yelled out that he had been shot with Peoria County Circuit Judge Mark Gilles granting the county's request to deny pre-trial release to Webster He is set for arraignment on May 1 at 1:30 p.m. with Circuit Judge Stephen Kouri presiding over matters Anyone with further information on the shooting is asked to contact Peoria police at (309) 673-4521 More: Komatsu North America CEO stepping down from role after decades with the company The Illinois Department of Transportation will have to acquire eight properties from Peoria Heights landowners in order to complete a $64.5 million renovation project of Galena Road according to information provided at a public meeting Wednesday night While IDOT hopes the land acquisition process goes smoothly it would be willing to use eminent domain and legal action to remove residents from their homes if they cannot come to a sale agreement according to program development engineer Karen Dvorsky which are scattered along the 2.6 miles of Galena Road the project encompasses would have to be acquired for a variety of reasons including driveways that are too steep to work around and front doors that are too close to the construction area IDOT has not yet begun the land acquisition process but has been communicating with the impacted landowners for roughly a year about why their properties fall into the project's right of way Dvorsky said it is too early to say whether or not all eight property owners will sell willingly but did say that IDOT has eminent domain authority that could be used to force property owners to sell and so if it comes to that — we don't like to do that — the district is pretty successful in settling and coming to agreement with most of our purchases but there are occasions where we do have to go to court," Dvorsky said Dvorsky said the land acquisition is a lengthy process but everything is based on fair market value "We look at all the different comps and we have licenses appraisers who are well trained to determine the fair market value "We have relocation services for those people we are relocating we pay for their moving expenses and so forth." Joseph Bruckerhoff owns one of the eight properties along Galena Road a rental property he says boasts stunning views of the Illinois River He recognizes that it's likely he will have to sell the property and said IDOT first reached out to him about a year ago IDOT is required to pay fair market value for any properties it acquires to finish the project Bruckerhoff said it is too early in the process to know if IDOT is going to offer fair market value "I'd support it if didn't affect me," Bruckerhoff said of the project Bruckerhoff said he can see how the overall project will be a benefit to the area but was not yet sure that it was worth the $64.5 million price tag that comes with it A 106-year-old historic pavilion at the base of Grandview Drive will be dug up and moved roughly 40 to 60 feet west to accommodate the expansion of Galena Road Moving the pavilion is no easy process from a physical or procedural standpoint as the historic structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and carries with it a host of federal protections The federal government has to sign off on each aspect of the plan to move the pavilion Peoria Park District Land Manager Michael Friberg said the pavilion has given the Peoria Park District some trouble in the past decade as its old foundation required repairs as the structure began shifting in the ground on top of the old brick factory it was built on More: 4 major state road projects for the Peoria-area identified by IDOT Friberg said the Peoria Park District was going to repair the pavilion and foot the bill itself but because of the Galena Road project IDOT is going to pay to have the structure moved and foundation repaired "The pavilion is an exciting project — scary and exciting," Friberg said IDOT first came to the park district several years ago and asked if it would support bike access through the narrow stretch of Galena Road where the pavilion sits The park district was on board with the idea but Friberg said it was him at the time who jokingly said "We were kind of happy that IDOT was willing to pay to move it and build us a new foundation and get us away from the traffic noise," Friberg said No dollar amount has yet been determined for what it will cost to move the pavilion Friberg said but the park district has found a firm out of the Chicagoland area that believes it can draw up plans to move the structure safely The pavilion will hopefully be moved sometime in 2026 when the project goes out to bid What will happen to Galena Road in Peoria Heights?Galena Road is set to undergo a $64.5 million expansion that will see the road widened to include a two-lane left turn lane and a multi-use path that will connect the area to the Rock Island Greenway Trail The scope of the project extends from near the McCluggage Bridge roughly 2.6 miles to approximately Gardner Lane Construction would start at the earliest in the summer of 2027 and the project will take at least two years to complete The project is nearing the end of its phase one which includes the preliminary engineering which is the actual design engineering phase and land acquisition would take approximately two years to complete on an "aggressive" timeline More: More than 500 workers furloughed at Liberty Steel in Peoria, union says This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A major mixed-use development is being proposed for land in Peoria Heights that is currently home to a Save-A-Lot grocery store Developers, who purchased the Save-A-Lot building in August unveiled plans to the Journal Star for a 64,000-square-foot complex that would be home to commercial Costs for the project will be upward of $12 million The development group undertaking the project includes Torchia of WCT Investments Ciaron Graham of Hein Construction and Brandon Dean of Dean Custom Builders The group purchased the building for $900,000 until March 2026 and will continue to operate until then the Save-A-Lot building will be demolished in April 2026 and construction on the new complex will begin Torchia said developers aim to complete the complex in early 2027 Peoria Heights' business district and vibrancy along Prospect Road were main drivers for developers selecting the Save-A-Lot location "We're excited about Peoria Heights and we're just excited about the vibe Peoria Heights has and what Peoria Heights lends to a small-town community feeling," Torchia said "We were looking to do something in Peoria Heights that would make it stand out and really be a nice addition to the community and really make use of the three different types of tenants we're going to have in the building." More: Abandoned and for sale: What we know about 13 properties connected to Kim Blickenstaff The project figures to be a major boon for Peoria Heights which has long been hoping to see new ownership at properties such as the Save-A-Lot grocery store which was formerly owned by developer Kim Blickenstaff Blickenstaff's original plan was to develop a locally owned grocery store at the site "I have a lot of confidence in the developers — they have a great reputation and I think they'll be a really good fit for Peoria Heights," Mayor Mike Phelan said Phelan said he was "very excited" about the project and said it will be a perfect fit for the village's vision of a business district it hopes will grow south along Prospect Road toward War Memorial Drive "We're spending a lot of money on improvement for Prospect Road and it's not just for the business district — of course the business district benefits — but it's accessible sidewalks so it makes it better for the residents as well as the businesses," Phelan said "That is one of the main corners in our downtown." Plans for the development call for a four-story building to be constructed with the ground floor serving as a home for retail shops and restaurants The second and third floors of the building would be used for residential apartments and the fourth floor will be "build to suit" office spaces that the developer says can "bring your dream office to life." The development will fall into Peoria Heights' business enterprise zone which means the project could be eligible for a public-private partnership giving the developers access to business development district funds if an agreement is reached with the village Torchia said the developers have had "very preliminary" discussions with village officials on that front and Phelan said he the village has "a lot of tools in the tool belt" it can use to assist a project like this one Phelan said he expects that to be the path the village follows with the development The sole concern Phelan had about the project was the village losing its grocery store when Save-A-Lot is torn down He said village officials are hopeful another store can come to fruition in the Heights More: Peoria Heights homeowners may be forced to sell to make way for $64.5 million road project The Pabst Building in Peoria Heights has been purchased by a local developer ending six of years of ownership by Kim Blickenstaff's KDB Group William Torchia, who also purchased the Save-A-Lot Building in Peoria Heights last year Blickenstaff purchased the building in early 2019, and in the time since, the building has seen renovations and developments that include The 33 Room Torchia said the immediate plans for the Pabst Building include Raymond James Financial Services moving into the vacant fourth floor from its current location in Downtown Peoria KDB Group occupied a significant amount of space on the building's third floor and Torchia said he is currently marketing that space as a "build to suit" for a potential tenant The exterior of the building will remain largely unchanged but he does have plans to resurface the building's parking lot More: Abandoned and for sale: What we know about 13 properties connected to Kim Blickenstaff Pabst opened its Peoria Heights brewery in 1933 soon after the U.S The Pabst Brewery went out of business in Peoria Heights in 1982 with the Milwaukee-based company citing an excess of Midwest brewing capacity Seven-hundred workers were laid off when the brewery closed leaving only the building at the corner of Prospect Road and Seiberling Avenue The building then spent a few decades changing hands multiple times including Peoria-area developer Diane Cullinan Blickenstaff purchased the building in 2019 taking out a $2.8 million mortgage to do so More: Peoria Heights Save-A-Lot property sold to group of Peoria investors. Here's what we know An historic pavilion at the base of Grandview Drive will be dug up and moved to accommodate the expansion of Galena Road in Peoria Heights Moving the 106-year-old pavilion is no easy process The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and carries with it a host of protections Peoria Park District Land Manager Michael Friberg said Wednesday during a public meeting on the road project the pavilion has given the Peoria Park District some trouble in the past decade because its old foundation required repairs as the structure began shifting in the ground on top of the old brick factory it was built on Friberg said the park district was going to repair the pavilion and foot the bill itself but because of the Galena Road project IDOT is going to pay to have the structure moved and repaired The pavilion will be moved roughly 40 to 60 feet west of its current location No dollar amount has been determined for moving the pavilion but the park district has found a firm that believes it can draw up plans to move the structure safely The pavilion is expected to be moved in 2026 when the project goes out to bid Galena Road is set to undergo a $64.5 million expansion starting in 2027 that will see the road widened to include a two-lane left turn lane and a multi-use path that will connect the area to the Rock Island Greenway Trail expected to take at least two years to complete extends from near the McCluggage Bridge roughly 2.6 miles to approximately Gardner Lane A terrifying tuba concert will kick off this year's Halloween events at the Soderstrom Castle in Peoria Heights The historical landmark at 4717 N Grandview Drive is renowned for its annual Halloween extravaganza featuring live costumed performers and a pair of fire-breathing dragons welcoming trick-or-treaters This year, the castle will host a series of free attractions leading up to Halloween. The 2024 theme is "Monster Party." Here's what's in store for intrepid attendees: Related: From daydreams to dragons: The story of Soderstrom Castle in Peoria Heights A troupe of "ghoulish tuba players" will perform in concert from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m Halloween Music & Light Shows will be held from Oct Monster Party events wrap up on Oct. 31 with trick-or-treating, performances by Peoria Players and a Halloween Music & Light Show More Halloween events: Haunted houses and trails: Here are 12 spooky attractions in the Peoria area for Halloween CIProud.com Peoria Heights revels in Saint Patrick’s Day at W.E Normal Council extends moratorium on short term rentals Lilija Stevens sworn in as new Washington mayor Rader Family Farms to offer apple picking this fall A local restaurant is celebrating Cinco de Mayo IPCF awards grants to 97 local non-profits Brooke Swedman wants everyone to feel welcome and at home when they visit Feels Like Ohm She envisions a place where the community can gather and friends can catch up over a drink Swedman strived to create a space where customers can nourish and care for their bodies not only do you feel better when you leave you feel better in the morning when you wake up,” Swedman said “And that's a big thing for me – is I just want us to take care of our bodies Formerly located at Junction City Shopping Center Feels Like Ohm held a ribbon cutting for its new Peoria Heights storefront on Jan More: Peoria food inspections for December 2024 customers will continue to find a variety of cold-pressed juices and smoothies Twelve juice options will be available for grab and go Swedman said she narrowed down the selection based on favorites from the former location The new storefront also serves mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages Swedman said she enjoyed combining various ingredients to create a sizable mocktail selection ahead of opening She said many of the mocktails incorporate adaptogens through tinctures – which are concentrated herbal extracts – “to help elevate your mood and make you feel a different type of way without using (substances) or anything of that nature.” Feels Like Ohm will offer herbal supplements like valerian root for relaxation lavender for calming and L-theanine for improved focus “You can expect an elevated mood with these options which is something that I feel like everyone goes into a night out looking for She said a “pick your potion” option allows patrons to craft their own drink by selecting which ingredients they would like to include Customers can also order various non-alcoholic canned drinks Various small bites and food options are also available Swedman has long had a passion for healthy living She began concocting her own juices in high school after she and her brother received a juicer for Christmas Swedman and her sister-in-law teamed up to create freshly made juices for their family it made sense to create large batches of juice they began selling their drinks to family and friends Swedman began searching for a commercial kitchen space to operate out of Her search led her to Real Smooth Foods – a smoothie shop once located in the Junction City Shopping Center Swedman said she hoped to utilize the kitchen space when the business was closed she soon learned that owner Bre Cross planned to close the business and was given the opportunity to sublease the space Feels Like Ohm opened its original storefront in the cozy Junction City space in March 2024 Swedman said she knew it was a short-term home for the business "I knew we wanted more space for all of our ideas Peoria Heights – which is just to the left of Hearth Restaurant Swedman said the space was completely transformed ahead of opening Peoria Heights was the perfect place to expand her business And I feel like if I'm able to help the community and I am very excited to build in the Heights." More: Peoria Zoo hires familiar name as food and beverage manager Feel Like Ohm’s new location features expanded hours of operation Swedman hopes to host events such as speed dating and game nights She said she would love to collaborate with other local businesses Swedman said her primary focus is making sure the new location is a success She said patrons were anxiously awaiting the storefront’s opening and she looks forward to welcoming the community to Feels Like Ohm and I'm just excited to see where this takes us,” Swedman said “I just really want to focus on bringing people together in this space and also show people that you can take care of your body and feel like your best self while still having that connection and community feeling.” More: Peoria Heights businesses are launching a new BBQ brunch. Here's what to know A husband and wife died in a fire in Peoria Heights A house fire was reported Thursday afternoon in the 4400 block of North California Avenue Coroner Jamie Harwood said 69-year-old Dennis R Quitschau was pronounced dead at the scene was found unresponsive and not breathing and transported to a local hospital Thursday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Harwood said both suffered immediate and severe smoke inhalation rendering them unconscious and fully incapacitated They then sustained burns to approximately 90% of their total body surface area More: Coroner: Two dead after house fire in Peoria Heights The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshall set up the fundraiser in order to provide funeral and travel expenses to fellow family members following Diane and her 69-year-old husband Dennis' death Thursday during a fire at their home in the 4400 block of North California Avenue in Peoria Heights Hensley says that much of her sister's family lives in Texas and that their father had already died the week before leaving them in a continued state of grief The family is seeking $5,000 to provide for expenses with $4,110 already being provided as of Monday afternoon More: Coroner: Husband, wife died in Peoria Heights fire The Peoria Heights Fire Department said it received word of the fire at 12:52 p.m with the blaze's severity level raised after reports of possible explosions As firefighters attempted to fight the blaze with the coroner pronouncing him dead at the scene Harwood said Friday that Diane and Dennis Quitschau died due to "immediate and severe" smoke inhalation They also had burns on 90% of their bodies The Peoria Heights Fire Department said in a news release the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, but the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is still investigating “The Peoria Heights Fire Department along with crews on the scene would like to extend our deepest condolences to those affected by this fire our thoughts and prayers are with you," the department said in its release The home was considered a total loss, with JIMAX Demolition enlisted to raze the structure More: Two men stabbed during fight outside of West Peoria bar, sheriff says Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPEORIA COUNTY (25News Now) - In what the chief judge described as an extraordinarily troubling case; a 19-year-old Peoria man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for firing his gun several times at a man last spring at a Peoria Heights gas station Brailen Moore could have received up to 15 years following his guilty plea to aggravated discharge of a firearm for the shooting that happened in broad daylight about 5:45 p.m Surveillance video showed Moore getting out of the front passenger seat of a car and started arguing with another man who was pumping gas at Beck’s on War Memorial Drive according to a state’s attorney’s news release Moore then got back in the car he was riding in and fired it out the window nine times in the direction of the other man Both men left the scene before police got there Chief Judge Katherine Gorman said the behavior “has got to be deterred.” Moore must serve 85% of his 10-year sentence The Peoria Heights Board of Trustees is pumping the brakes on a plan to turn the fully volunteer fire department into a “hybrid” department with a handful of full-time employees The board voted 4-2 Tuesday to pass a motion to rescind a previous motion to hire three full-time employees for the beleaguered fire department Trustees Jeff Goett and Jennifer Reichert voted against the motion The motion was tabled at the Sept. 3 meeting after Trustee Sara DeVore proposed the reversal The board wanted to give Fire Chief Dan Decker an opportunity to speak with the board before a final decision DeVore raised concerns, explained in detail in a Facebook post from the village about a $1 million deficit in spending that would grow in the village’s budget over the next three years as they worked to cover the new positions an outspoken supporter of the fire department’s need for personnel but I assume they have families and they have people that rely on them for housing and food and electricity and that sort of thing,” he said “And the thought of hiring them when the administration is telling me that there's no money to hire them Decker told the board Tuesday that completely rescinding the motion is the “only thing that scares” him even without planned future restrictions on stipend shifts and volunteer hours the department currently has open shifts on the schedule the change that it's going to do to our department,” Decker said “It's already difficult to fill those spots and any decrease in personnel or hours that personnel are able to work makes it near impossible.” City Administrator and Police Chief Dustin Sutton told the board rescinding the motion shouldn’t be considered a total abandonment of progress on the department we've increased the budget to almost a million dollars,” Sutton said “We've increased the stipends considerably not for the first time in a village board meeting that further expansion of the department in the village’s current financial standing would likely require cuts to personnel in the police department or increasing taxes “Now we just have to find out how we’re going to pay for it.” Though the board decided to end the search for full-time firefighters even as members of the village’s new fire and police commission were prepared to conclude the hiring process DeVore said this doesn’t mean the village would never consider these positions again it's not that we can't revisit this next month or in three months or in six months,” she said before the vote “A lot of things are changing with our finances There's a lot of things that are happening.” It’s unclear if there’s a definitive date or approximation for when the board will revisit the question of how to reshape their fire department A trio of Peoria investors has purchased the Save-A-Lot property from Kim Blickenstaff's KDB Group in Peoria Heights Frye Crossing LLC purchased the building from KDB Group for $675,000 Peoria Heights economic development director Wayne Aldrich would not divulge the group's plans but did say he had met with the developers and added it will be an "exciting development." KDB Group purchased the Save-A-Lot building in 2019 for $1.1 million and hoped to one day build a specialty grocery store at the property Last year Blickenstaff listed many of his properties for sale Dean could not be reached for comment by the Journal Star on Friday Graham declined to comment at this time on plans for the property Another former KDB Property in Peoria Heights also recently sold. SRP Capital purchased the Prospect Mall for $1.5 million A Peoria Heights nursing home received fines totaling up to $100,000 from the Illinois Department of Public Health after violating state rules relating to ensuring the safety of patients on four separate occasions IDPH said that Cornerstone Rehabilitation and Health Care Center was in violation of state rules for reporting patient injuries and safe prescribing of medications for incidents that took place late in 2023 and early in 2024 Each of the four incidents ended up garnering a $25,000 fine that was increased as a result of violating rules considered high risk by the agency In the first incident IDPH says that a 92-year-old woman was hospitalized twice in January after she fell out of a wheelchair The laceration ended up being aggravated following the second fall IDPH's report into the incidents say that while the woman was supposed to have a new wheelchair provided to her following the first fall none was provided to her in the intervening period before the second fall Nurses and nursing assistants told IDPH that she had been leaning over in her wheelchair for the prior three months and her attorney noted that her dementia was getting worse as time passed The facility's director of nursing told IDPH that there was no fall risk assessment prior to the first fall and that initially they had switched her over to a chair that lowered closer to the floor to prevent her from falling forward they decided to switch her to a chair with a higher back More: Petersen Health plans to sell over 80 facilities for about $136M, documents show The second fine revolved around several patients who had medication-related issues that led to preventable injuries at the nursing home IDPH said that one patient suffered nose bleeds after physicians failed to monitor lab test results for warfarin while another four patients either had medications not provided to them or not have them discontinued to the point at least one of them suffered 10 days of ongoing pain a third patient received a double dose of medication in February with employees noting that he shouldn't be receiving that much medication Fine number three revolved around a 54-year-old paraplegic man who was hospitalized after the facility wasn't able to replace protective wrapping around a series of wounds that he had IDPH said that nurses tried to replace his wrapping due to the smell that it gave off Nurses and doctors wanted to see the man have an antimicrobial foam dressing for him to use doctors at the hospital the man went to were able to increase the length of his packing gauze More: 'The deal is dead': Why plans for a $57 million hotel in Downtown Peoria were terminated Finally, the fourth violation revolved around a failure to monitor a correction plan for prescribing high-risk anti-coagulants such as warfarin and coumadin resulting in a patient receiving coumadin for four months without monitoring and incorrect dosages of warfarin that put her at higher risk of thrombosis or bleeding IDPH reported that this person received over 200 coumadin tablets over a four-month period between January and April 2024 and that officials at the facility had admonished employees for providing people with those kinds of medications without frequently checking the dosing and the labs for any adverse effects the facility had not been able to provide documents proving that they had checked or monitored the person's medical records as required by the correction plan put in place in February following the prior medication incidents On Oct. 15, Brienzo’s Pizza + Bar shared plans to open a third location in East Peoria’s Blutowne development “Our journey has been filled with milestones we’re ready to take Brienzo’s to yet another level,” the business said in its announcement Once open, the establishment will serve the same pizza and cocktails available at the restaurant’s Peoria Heights location. The Blutowne development — situated at 501 W in East Peoria — will include 10,000 square feet of commercial space and more than 200 apartments Brienzo’s Pizza + Bar operates one location at the Heritage Square Shopping Center. The establishment said its second restaurant — located at 7713 N Orange Prairie Road — “is on track to open very soon.” The announcement noted: “We are incredibly grateful for the continued support that has allowed us to expand and bring the joy of pizza to even more communities and we can’t wait to serve you in our new locations More: Why this thriving bakery business has bought more property in Peoria Heights It has been five years since the Peoria Jaycees hosted their last International Beer Festival in 2019 said customers have often shared their desire for a craft beer festival to return to central Illinois we're trying to get something restarted and hopefully grow it into something larger to bring people from all over Illinois back into Peoria to celebrate craft beer,” she said over a dozen brewers will set up in the establishment’s parking lot for the Bust’d Beer Bash Henderson said Bust’d Brewing has “heard an overwhelming response” from the community since announcing the event When is the Bust'd Beer Bash?Bust'd Brewing will host its Bust'd Beer Bash on Sept Henderson said Bust’d Brewing will operate as normal for those not attending the event More: Red Lobster has closed, but here are other local options for seafood in Peoria Tickets for the eventBust’d Brewing is offering a total of 250 tickets for the event and Henderson said there are still plenty left “We're really anticipating the majority of people to start buying once the weather forecast comes out – which should be any day now,” Henderson said Henderson said attendees will receive a 5-ounce glass and will be able to sample beers from over a dozen brewers Eventbrite also lists designated driver tickets for $10 Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite or in person at the business Henderson said tickets will also be available the day of the event but recommends purchasing them in advance How many breweries will be at the event?Including Bust’d Brewing Henderson said a total of 13 brewers will set up in the parking lot for the Bust’d Beer Bash She expects there will be more than 30 beers which visitors can sample Henderson said she is excited to offer visitors the opportunity to try beers they might not typically drink “You're not having to exchange a ticket or buy a glass of beer that you might not like,” she said Henderson said attendees will find a variety of brewers from across the state – from Treehive Meadery to the south all the way up to Almond Ridge Brewery in the Chicago suburbs “We've got some people traveling from all over Illinois to come share their beer with us here in central Illinois,” she said More: Downtown Peoria business opens with new vision Yes, Henderson said two Peoria Heights establishments − Clink Bar and Events and Slow Hand Craft BBQ − will serve food at the event Food is not included in the cost of admission Hungry for more Peoria food news? Sign up for PJStar Dining Parking and seating for the eventAttendees may park in public lots or street parking. Much like when Cousins Maine Lobster came to visit Henderson asked visitors to be respectful of neighboring businesses which are open by not using their lots Bust’d Brewing will set up extra picnic tables and standing cocktail tables for guests to relax and converse On Friday, Sept. 6, Bust’d Brewing will visit The Fox Pub and Cafe for its Summer Patio Party – which takes place from 4 p.m Bust’d Brewing will release a new coffee IPA which incorporates coffee from Intuition Coffee Company The event description on Facebook says cocktails which incorporate spirits from BLACK BAND Distillery will also be available and noted: “Our patio party will start your weekend off right as it gears up for the Inaugural Bust'd Beer Bash on Saturday the 7th.” More: Peoria restaurant inspections for July 2024 If Facebook is any indication, Bust’d Brewing may be bursting at the seams this weekend Taproom manager Bre Henderson said generally around 10% of those interested are expected to turn out for events This could mean hundreds – if not thousands – of people may visit the Peoria Heights business in a single day we’re blown away,” Henderson said of the response “We don't even know how to prepare for an event of that magnitude and what to expect.” Cousins Maine Lobster was taken aback by the swift and strong response she said the business asked if they could bring a second food truck have the capacity to serve around 2,000 people each Bust’d Brewing has shared information – such as where people can park – on its Facebook page More: After setbacks, local business on the cusp of opening in Evergreen Square in Peoria The event at Bust’d Brewing is scheduled from 11 a.m What’s on the menu at Cousins Maine Lobster?The Chicago food truck’s online menu includes Maine and Connecticut rolls – which are each listed for $24 lobster bisque and an option for children are also listed Other lobster-based specialties on the menu include: Find the full menu at https://www.cousinsmainelobster.com/locations/chicago-il/ Customers can place orders in-person at the food truck An online ordering option through the Cousins Maine Lobster app will also start at 11 a.m. or if they're having a crazy influx of orders they might turn off online ordering for a little bit just to allow themselves to catch up.” Henderson said customers should first select the Chicago location before ordering for Peoria Heights The cost of credit: Peoria restaurants pass swipe fees on to customers as costs rise Bust’d Brewing will offer its full menu, which includes 12 craft beers brewed at the establishment. Find the menu here. Henderson said the menu also includes ciders and a variety of non-alcoholic options When asked which craft beer would pair best with the food truck’s menu refreshing flavors for sitting outside enjoying the day,” she said as well as the fresh zestiness of the lemons that you're going to put on top of your lobster roll.” Henderson said three beer options will be available at a beer tent set up near the food trucks She said customers can order from the full drink menu inside or at the establishment’s walk-up window – which faces out to the patio More: Peoria Heights restaurant begins accepting cash again, updates branding Henderson said street parking and public lots are also available “we want to have people be respectful of our neighbors and not fill up their parking lots.” the Peoria Heights business shared a map which highlights public lots which visitors can find Seating inside of Bust’d Brewing is limited as Henderson said the space can accommodate around 48 people she has secured additional picnic tables for the establishment’s patio She expects the outdoor area will be able to seat around 125 people for really nice weather that day,” Henderson said “It looks like it should be a gorgeous afternoon to be able to have a lot of people outside.” She said she is working with Peoria Heights to try and offer additional seating options More: Downtown Peoria restaurant unable to overcome challenges, closes after less than a year Henderson said the Chicago franchise of Cousins Maine Lobster is visiting Peoria as part of a downstate tour The business’s food trucks are making half a dozen stops as part of a road trip through central Illinois from Aug Henderson said Chicago’s franchisee reached out after seeing that Bust’d Brewing hosted food trucks previously Bust’d Brewing aims to bring the community together by hosting exciting and unique experiences so Henderson said they “were totally on board” with Cousins Maine Lobster visiting “The excitement of this event definitely seems like we hit the nail on the head with something that Peoria wants to see,” she said we're excited for that and look forward to it.” Henderson said she had not heard of Cousins Maine Lobster The California-based business – which appeared on Shark Tank – was founded in 2012 and has since grown to multiple restaurants and dozens of food trucks that Bust’d Brewing owners Amber and Brian Buss tried Cousins Maine Lobster just a few months prior during a trip to Chicago “And I remember they even sent me a picture and said ‘You need to have this next time you see it,’ and then it was only a couple weeks later that they reached out to us,” Henderson said it was just kind of happenstance that it all worked out that way.” More: Peoria Heights cafe will open unique second location in Downtown Peoria On Dec. 19, Clink Bar and Events announced "The moment you’ve all been waiting for…" The Peoria Heights restaurant plans to introduce its Saturday brunch menu this weekend such as Bloody Marys for $6 and mimosa buckets for $25 Customers will also find various brunch dishes Clink Bar and Events told customers: "Come hungry come thirsty — we can’t wait to brunch with you!" 'It's really exciting': Downtown Peoria business will launch its own craft beer selection until midnight Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday Website: https://www.clinkbarandevents.com/ the consolidation of jobs is considered key for a village that has many of the same needs as a bigger city but operates with the budget of a small municipality The practice is something Mayor Mike Phelan championed when he took office and he and others in leadership believe it has helped put the village on solid economic ground Village officials have to be creative in how they allocate their dollars because they have many of the same needs such as maintenance of infrastructure and a strong business development plan One of the solutions Peoria Heights has utilized to save money Most prominent among those consolidations is that of Dustin Sutton who serves as both the village administrator and chief of police Each position pays him a salary and a pension who has been police chief for 27 years and village administrator for six draws a $134,701.84 salary as police chief and a $93,600 stipend as a village administrator Village officials say employing Sutton in both roles while also combining other village jobs such as public works director and human resources has saved the village $1.7 million over the past six years The village makes this calculation by estimating what it believes it would cost to hire a new police chief and administrator of Sutton's experience and caliber I think it kind of mirrors our community — and that is quality over quantity," Sutton said Peoria Heights Mayor Mike Phelan said the consolidation of jobs in the village became prominent when he took over office in 2017 He saw it as a way to save money without sacrificing performance He believes hiring an administrator of Sutton's caliber would cost $125,000 More: Peoria Heights Save-A-Lot property sold to group of Peoria investors. Here's what we know "We're a smaller village and there's often a need for a position but sometimes there might not be full-time work there so you have to think about ways around that," Phelan said other village employees wear multiple hats in a cost-saving effort by the village Shane Murphy oversees landlord registration and code enforcement Wayne Aldrich handles economic development and community development for not only the taxpayers but for the village administration — and it's a win for the employee who is willing to take on additional tasks and then they receive more pay or a bonus or a stipend," Phelan said Putting Murphy in two roles saved the village a full-time salary of $60,000 and saves it on benefits that would have had to be paid out to another employee Murphy's total compensation is $72,842 to work multiple jobs in the village Community development director Wayne Aldrich the city's major water infrastructure project and the Route 29 project Sutton said that 66% of Aldrich's salary comes from the business development district fund Both the water infrastructure project and Route 29 development corridor plan are major undertakings for the village. A study of the village's water infrastructure showed the village needed to spend $12 million in the next five years on the system The village is also setting plans to create a business development corridor along Route 29 Phelan said the model has "worked really well" for Peoria Heights and has also helped keep employee turnover low "We would rather have a smaller workforce and pay them well and ask a little more of them than not be able to pay good wages and benefits to candidates and to employees," Phelan said so we're paying attractive salaries and good benefits." Sutton said the village's cost-saving efforts have allowed it to bank over $8 million in reserve funds and allowed it to take its police pension fund from 27% funded to 75% funded Both are considered big wins in a village the size of Peoria Heights More: Brown water and complaints: Peoria Heights may spend millions to upgrade its water system "If you look at our population and you set us out in a rural area we probably don't need some of the personnel," Sutton said Some residents of Peoria Heights have lobbed criticism at the village's consolidation of positions specifically Sutton handling both the duties of village administrator and chief of police But Sutton and Phelan both believe he has done a good job in successfully managing both roles "I was asked to do a job seven years ago and are we better off now than we were before I took those positions I think that's my question to maybe some people that have made those comments is I am pretty proud of what we've done here and we're in a lot better position now than before I got up here." Sutton begins every morning at the police department with staff and then he goes to Village Hall for the rest of his day He said his days vary depending on which role needs more attention would ask those critical of Sutton "what is it that's not getting done?" He said replacing in both roles Sutton would cost the village $300,000 to $400,000 "To go out and hire a new administrator would probably cost in the neighborhood of to get someone of his caliber who is capable More: Peoria Heights restaurant expanding to third location due to 'incredible support' The Soderstrom family is inviting holiday merrymakers to celebrate the season in one of central Illinois’ most iconic landmarks: the Soderstrom Family Castle on Grandview Drive The castle will be open for holidays homes tours and an open house from Friday, Dec. 6 until Dec. 18. Visitors will have the option of touring two or all four floors. Refreshments will include Trefgzer's snowflake cookies and punch served in authentic German Gluhwein holiday boot mugs Local singers and actors will be on hand to serenade visitors with live sounds of Christmas 2024 Holiday home tour in Peoria: Colonials, condos and an embezzler's home Visitors can also view the castle’s Rolan Johnson Holiday Christmas card collection and will have an opportunity to purchase this year’s Rolan Johnson-inspired ornament “Glad Tidings of Great Joy and Peace.” All proceeds from ornament sales will go to the Sisters of St Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite.com More information is available at soderstromcastle.com A new parking lot is coming to Peoria Heights after months of figuring out how the project could work in the village owner Jeff Huebner also had to purchase the Bust'd Brewing building and its adjoining parcels to bring his proposed lot in compliance with village code Huebner purchased the Bust'd Brewing building and its adjoining parcels for $495,000 from KDB Group in September Huebner bought the Grayboy lofts site that sits between Bust'd Brewing and Trefzger's for $450,000 Huebner planned to build a parking lot on the empty Grayboy site but village code did not allow for the lot to be constructed unless in it was contiguous with the parcels and parking lot of the Bust'd Brewing site — which formerly housed a longtime Subway shop The new parking lot will connect Bust'd Brewing's current lot to a lot to be built on the Grayboy site — giving Bust'd Brewing Trefzger's and Peoria Heights all additional parking and so technically the parking lot will be for Bust'd Brewing it can be used for the Village of Peoria Heights Police Department who parks in our lot all the time," Huebner said "And then when there's events in the Heights such as things that happen at Pour Bros big activities that go on in the Heights there will be extra parking for that Huebner said they are going to add green space and permanent planters to act as screening along Prospect Road for the parking lot There is no timeline yet for when the parking lot will be completed Peoria Heights Mayor Mike Phelan said he is happy to see Trefzger's expanding and feels the new parking lot will help fit the village plan to expand the downtown business district south toward War Memorial Drive "We really had hoped to line Prospect with sales tax producing businesses parking lot doesn't do that — but it supports their business and they generate a lot of sales tax and revenue and they've been a very good example of locally owned The village had originally hoped to see something that would generate sales tax come to the Grayboy site but Phelan said things do not always go according to plan and they are happy with the Huebners' plans for expanding Trefzger's footprint "We're happy that Jeff and Martha (Huebner) are expanding their business and they've been very good stewards of the property they own and what they've done for Peoria Heights," Phelan said Phelan said the new parking lot could also be beneficial for the village when the Huebners build a planned trailhead to the Rock Island Greenway More: Once planned for a hotel, prominent Peoria Heights property has sold for $1.5 million A property once slated for a major hotel project in Peoria Heights has been sold Prospect Road in Peoria Heights has been sold by Kim Blickenstaff's KDB Group to SRP Capital for $1.5 million Blickenstaff bought the building for $1 million in 2019 and soon after unveiled plans to convert the property into a hotel Plans to build a hotel at the site never materialized before Blickenstaff abruptly abandoned developments in the area putting many of his properties up for sale last year The Prospect Mall was just one of a handful of significant properties Blickenstaff had purchased in Peoria Heights with promises to renovate and build new Few of the village projects ever came to fruition and many of those properties have since been sold off Those properties include the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for Performing Arts an empty lot near Trefzger's Bakery and the Pabst building A prominent Peoria Heights Mexican-inspired restaurant is closing its doors Cayenne "It comes with mixed emotions we are closing Cayenne in Peoria Heights," the post said "We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone in Central IL who has supported us over the years." We had hoped to be able to announce a new chapter for a new company but as of now there is nothing to announce."  'Pink mold' and undated food: The best and worst Peoria food inspections for June 2024 More: Popular potato-based doughnut shop updates hours of operation at two locations On this week’s episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with artist Lori Reed about the Harvard Avenue Artists Show now on view through the end of April at Exhibit A Gallery in Peoria Heights Featuring 58 works by four artists who all live on the same block the exhibition showcases a diverse mix of styles — from abstract painting and stained glass to photography and collage Reed shares how the exhibition came together the inspiration behind her whimsical animal-infused collages and how it celebrates not only creativity but the power of neighborhood collaboration