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How do small business owners come up with a name for their fledgling establishments?
For Angie and Brett Franzen, owners of The Goose and The Gander, it was a matter of finding something that suited the store and referenced their contrasting personalities and styles.
“So I knew that I wanted to have a two-part name,” Angie said. “And then it gets a little bit cheesy, but geese mate for life, so we are married and together for life. But it also lends to that farmhouse vibe a little bit.”
The Goose and The Gander, located at 218 S. David St. in Sidney, opened in late November.
The couple was inspired to open the business by their love of both the small community and antiques, she said. They also wanted to showcase local artists and have been able to do so by offering items such as pottery and jewelry at the shop.
The Goose and the Gander also offers reproduction items built by Brett, such as custom-made shelving, wall hooks and small furniture items.
“And then together we paint them and do distressing or an aged look on them, so they fit an antique farmhouse vibe,” Angie said. “… You can have that vibe and have it custom fit to whatever size space you want.”
She added that while they are listed as an antique store, about half of their inventory is made up of “unique gifts and products,” such as handmade soaps, candles made in Illinois, baby items, housewarming gifts and wooden toys.
“So it’s a little something for everybody,” she said.
New daycare hopes to open soon
Two by Two Learning Center, a new daycare located inside Lodgic Coworking at 1807 S. Neil St. in Champaign, could potentially be open by mid-January, estimated owner Lynette Hendricks.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to help our community and to have a safe, warm, nurturing space in which to help children, to help them after school, since we’ll be catering to the second shift,” Hendricks said. “So if a mom has a 12-hour shift, she doesn’t need to worry.”
She added, “…I believe this space is going to provide a lot of shelter for children as well as young people, because they can volunteer there as well. It gives them something to do, and they can give back (with) their talents, whether it be art, science, reading.”
More information about enrollment and employment opportunities is available by contacting Hendricks at 217-607-8184 or 2by2learningcenter@gmail.com.
Queer bar aims for 2025 opening
Amy’s Place, owned by Amy Beth Myers, will be located at 120 N. First St. in Champaign.
“It’s not too far from downtown,” she said. “It’s kind of off the beaten path, so the people who come will come for the right reasons instead of being downtown, where I feel like it (will) be more safe for the queer community.”
Myers estimated that Amy’s Place could be open by mid-2025. She added that she will need to make some renovations to the space, which has served as the Champaign County Democratic Party headquarters.
“It will be a queer bar, a gay bar … dive bar, cheap, affordable drinks and programming throughout the week,” she said.
Myers, who is a lesbian, emphasized that the bar will be “gay-owned, gay-operated.”
Quilt shop moving from Urbana to Champaign
Everyday Quilting Company, previously at 1717 S. Philo Road in Urbana, is relocating to 301 W. Marketview Drive in Champaign.
The business shared on social media that the Philo Road location closed Dec. 12, and the plan is to reopen at the new location Jan. 3.