5 Reasons Social Media Is Great For Business

Wealth manager and blogger, William L. Gual explains why social media is great for business.

Two Palatine Businesswomen Combine Forces with New Retail Space

Fancy's Nancy's Outdoor Pillows & Accessories now shares a retail space with Patti's Pretties, a gift and flower shop in downtown Palatine.

Seven years ago, Palatine resident Nancy Gust decided to open a fashion boutique in downtown Palatine called Fancy Nancy’s. She happened to be leasing the space next to Patti Curtis, a fellow Palatine resident and owner of Patti’s Pretties, a longstanding gift and flower shop. “We instantly became friends,” said Curtis. “It is kind of like a mother-daughter relationship, but we are great friends.” After a few years in business, Gust decided to close her shop, but she kept in touch with Curtis. Last year, Gust, an interior designer, was shopping for outdoor cushions when she realized that there wasn’t much to choose from. “The selection was abysmal at best,” she quipped. “We were having such a mild winter, so I was looking for cushions …

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New Family Fun Center in Palatine a Return to Local Roots

Happenings Family Fun Center is now open at the former Brunswick Zone location at 519 S. Consumers Ave.

Jamie Abraham was born and raised in Palatine, but she never thought she would one day open a business just minutes from her childhood home. Abraham and her husband, Brian, recently opened Happenings Family Fun Center at 519 S. Consumers Avenue in Palatine. The indoor entertainment center replaces the former Brunswick Zone bowling alley. The Abrahams and their 11-year-old daughter, Courtney, moved to Arizona three years ago. While living there, they opened an entertainment similar to the new Happenings. “We liked the concept of catering to kids,” Jamie Abraham said. However, a real estate venture did not work out as planned, and they missed their friends and family. They moved back to the area and now reside in Algonquin. The couple began …

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Knupper Nursery in Palatine Celebrates 80 Years of Business

John Heaton and his wife, Sue, keep a Palatine tradition alive.

Knupper Nursery has been a part of Palatine for the past 80 years. Owner John Heaton has worked at Knupper Nursery for more than 40 years. He took over when his ex-father-in-law, founder Richard Knupper, passed away. “The nursery is still on part of the original location,” Heaton said. “We’ve just added more property to it throughout the years.” Heaton earned a degree in ornamental horticulture from Michigan State University in 1959. He then spent nine years as a pilot in the air force before deciding to take over Knupper Nursery. In 1974, he began to purchase the nursery and took full ownership in 1987. “This is a great business,” Heaton said. “The people who come here want to be here. They want to feel that little bit of spring.” Heaton …

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Palatine Harley Shop Celebrates New Location, Tripling Size

City Limits Harley Davidson is officially moved into its new 52,000 square foot location. The grand opening will be Sept. 17.

City Limits Harley Davidson quietly opened the doors to its new location, 2015 N. Rand Rd., Aug. 24.  But the roar was a little louder when the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ceremony to welcome the business to town Friday night. Mayor Jim Schwants led a motorcycle procession escorted by off-duty Palatine Police Department Harley motorcycle riders to the front doors of the new 52,000 square foot location. The procession was the culmination of more than two years since owners Ozzie and Jill Giglio began planning the larger site for their growing business. “We did a great business at our former store despite being in a smaller building; now we are finally in a space that is more suitable to our team and our growth,”  Ozzie Giglio…

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