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The new business, owned by Conn Hospitality features only
Illinois-made products, but in a huge variety from food, wines,
cheeses, soda, jewelry, home décor, clothing and much more.
Karen Conn of Conn Hospitality was very excited about the opening of
the store that was at one point in time a tavern named Buck’s
according to Logan County native Bob Farmer. The same location is
also more recently the Blue Moon Café. The store now reflects some
of its former personality with the checkout station being located at
a half moon shaped bar that was possibly part of the first business
in the building.
Conn said that while her company calls Springfield its home-base,
there are a variety of businesses operating within the Conn group
that are spread around the middle part of the state.
In addition, Conn Hospitality owns the old Gillette Farm in Elkhart
and is looking forward to opening a winery there in the foreseeable
future. She noted that the Conn’s have planted 2,500 grape vines at
the farm and are looking forward to expanding into the winery when
the time is right.
She said that she had a large number of chickens at the farm and the
new store is currently offering farm-fresh eggs from her chickens.
Conn says that Elkhart is a good place to be for the new business.
She referred to the town on the whole as “typical Americana” and
during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the beginning of the day noted
that the goal of increasing Route 66 tourism traffic into Elkhart is
a big part of the company’s choice of location.
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Karen Conn led the ribbon cutting and when it was time to snip the
ribbon, she joined her husband Cort behind the ribbon along with
other members of Conn Corporate and the new manager of Elkhart
Station. Together Karen and Court cut the ribbon and invited
everyone to come back inside and continue shopping the large
selection of items for sale.
The general store will be managed by Conn Employee Rachael
Bennett-Paul from Riverton. Conn said that Bennett-Paul is
accustomed to small town living and business and is very excited
about running the new business in Elkhart.
On Friday morning, the crowd in attendance was remarkable and the
long line of shoppers waiting to reach out the check-out station was
very impressive. Guests were gathering items from collectible
Elkhart mugs to something called Ski soda manufactured in Lebanon,
Illinois to candy from Arndt’s in Newton, Illinois, and items such
as cheeses, ground coffees, and much more.
The store is located at 101 Governor Oglesby Street, the primary
street through town from Route 66. The store will be open Wednesday
through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
[Nila Smith] |
