New Subway arrives next month, another in ‘09
Subway Sandwiches & Salads is coming to The Pines shopping center in southeast Urbana in September.
Mike Hogan, who with Damon Fairbanks owns seven Subway shops in the Champaign-Urbana area, said he’s chosen the new site at 2740 S. Philo Road, U, for the eighth shop.
“That whole area is just exploding,” Hogan said. “With the clinics and Meijer there, we feel it’s a high-growth area.”
Hogan has targeted Sept. 17 as the opening date, and he said the 1,900-square-foot store will be an “embellished” Subway with a Tuscan theme, indoor seating and perhaps patio seating.
“We expect it to be a high-volume store,” he said, adding it will likely employ 15 to 20 people.
Hogan, who lives in Bloomington, acquired his other seven stores in Champaign-Urbana two years ago. Those include three stores in the University of Illinois campus area, plus locations at Old Farm Shops, Market Place Mall, 1401 S. Neil St., C, and 1814 Glenn Park Drive, C. Hogan and his brother Marty also own Subways in the Bloomington-Normal area.
Hogan said he has plans for a ninth store in Champaign-Urbana – in connection with a gas station under construction at Springfield Avenue and Staley Road in Champaign. That store is projected to open in mid-2009, he said.
Counting that store, there will be a total of 19 Subway shops in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy area, said Kim Ireland, a Subway area manager. And you thought Starbucks had a lot of locations!
Chinese buffet coming
For those who miss the Four Seasons House, a new Chinese buffet plans to open in the old Four Seasons space east of the Schnucks store in Champaign.
Bo Zhu, who operates the Super Wok restaurant at Old Farm Shops, said he plans to open Asian Star Buffet in the space at 105 N. Mattis Ave. later this month.
Zhu said he doesn’t expect to make many changes to the interior, but he plans to offer a sushi bar, a Mongolian bar and a variety of Chinese and American foods. The restaurant will still have its ice cream machine, he added.
The lunch buffet will likely be $6.95 Monday through Saturday. The dinner buffet is expected to cost $10.99 Monday through Thursday and $11.99 Fridays and Saturdays. The Sunday buffet will likely be $10.99 all day, he said.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily except for Friday and Saturday nights when the restaurant will be open until 10:30 p.m. The restaurant’s phone number is 373-1201.
Montgomery’s pushes catering
If you like fine dining at Montgomery’s in Monticello, you can arrange for Montgomery’s food at home – and we’re not talking about doggie bags.
Montgomery’s has begun spreading word that it’s offering catering services for formal and informal events ranging from casual cookouts to wedding receptions.
The service is offered at locations within an hour’s drive of Monticello, said Dawn Poling, food and beverage director for Montgomery’s Fine Catering.
The catering service can use its own recipes or some of your favorites, she said. It also can arrange complimentary tastings if you want to sample some of the recipes in advance.
Rhonda and Tony Sinkosky own Montgomery’s. The phone number is 762-3833.
Sign company on the move
After 42 years in business, Chuck White Signs & Designs is moving to a new location in Tilton.
The business plans to open Wednesday at 125 W. Fifth St., across from Whooligan’s Restaurant, owner Chuck White said.
The firm, which specializes in vinyl, paint, electric and electronic signs, had been at 1819 Monroe in Tilton for 18 years. White said he closed that location two months ago to prepare the new site for business.
Hours for the new location will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The new phone number is 799-6734.
At your service
Shakesa Beard has started an errand-running service called The Errand Lady.
She will do grocery shopping, prescription pickups and other errands and provide transportation to appointments. She plans to serve the Champaign County area.
For more information, call 402-5187 or send e-mail to errandlady75<@>yahoo.com.
It’s your business
Debra Pressey’s “It’s Your Business” column will return on Aug. 24.