On Biz: Aloha, Hidden Gems Fashion, Blessingdales | Local
Aloha Hawaiian-Chinese Restaurant dining room closing
After nearly 40 years, the Aloha Hawaiian-Chinese Restaurant, is closing the dining room to customers.
“I’m 72,” said owner Susan Lee. “Me and my husband, we’re getting too old. We cannot handle the business.”
The restaurant, located at 3025 N. Kandy Lane, will continue to offer carry-out and bar/gaming services starting May 15. Hours will continue to be from 3 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
The restaurant, known for its Chinese and Polynesian cuisine and decor, has been successful for Lee and her husband, she said. “Everyday is packed, even the weekdays,” she said. “The restaurant is very, very busy.”
“Maybe we can find a good hand to take over the Aloha, so it can keep running,” Lee said. “Most customers want that.”
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The community has expressed their sorrow of the news. “Lots of people cry,” Lee said.
Hidden Gems Fashion moving to Decatur
Hidden Gems Fashion is set to open a Decatur store selling women’s clothing, said owner Fatima Naser.
The store was originally in Savoy for nearly a year. The products will now be located in the former Seno Formalwear store at 2715 N. Water St..
“With the commute, living here, it just became too much,” she said. “We decided to move.”
The products include clothing as well as accessories such as purses and shoes made in Turkey. “It’s good quality stuff,” Naser said. “They have a major fashion district that a lot of people don’t know about.”
On Biz: Town and Country Bank, The Hall at Five-Twenty, BKD
The owners are not new to Decatur. They also own Tasty’s Chicago Grill on Pershing Road. They like living in Decatur, Naser said. “And we could use some good clothes here,” she said.
The owners expect to open their doors on May 20 with a grand opening scheduled for the beginning of June.
Help and Hope Mission Market has closed
Help and Hope Mission Market, located at 553 W. Wood St. closed its doors on April 30. However, the merchandise and the employees moved to the popular thrift shop, Blessingdales, located at 345 W. Eldorado St.
“We didn’t have enough to do two stores,” said Carolann Carara, director of retail operations at Blessingdales. “And staffing has always been a bit of a problem.”
Blessingdales and Help and Hope are ministries for God’s Shelter of Love, Women and Children’s Shelter. “The staff I have typically don’t have to have a full time job with benefits,” Carara said.
“At Help and Hope, some of the most diligent workers were two 91-year-olds and a 75-year-old,” said Crystal Watkins. “We just transitioned them here.”
ON BIZ: TKG’s Daily Delights, Standing Paddle, MTZ Auto Express
TKG’s changes things up
Motorists along South Franklin Street have likely noticed a change to the TKG’s restaurant sign.
It now reads TKG’s Daily Delights.
According to owner Kathleen Garmon (pictured), the restaurant is no longer part of the Wing Heaven franchise. The restaurant, located at 760 S. Franklin St., opened seven years ago. Garmon and her husband Tom had plans to open TKG’s Daily Bread years ago.
“After experiencing Wing Heaven, which was great for us for seven years, we decided to go with our original platform,” she said.
The menu is heavy on soul food, with such offerings as collard greens, cornbread dressing, candied yams and macaroni and cheese.
“And there are other foods that we add daily, perhaps mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, spaghetti,” Garmon said. “People like a variety.”
TKG’s is known for its variety of wings. With their own business, the owners removed the Wing Heaven’s spices and flavors.
“The sauces that we have now, they are our creations,” Garmon said.
The restaurant also has changed its hours. The business is now open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. “We take our last call-in at 6:15 p.m.,” Garmon said.
Standing Paddle returning with new owners
Rob Lipic and Scott Magruder are the new owners of the Standing Paddle Co. located in Nelson Park.
Paddle boards and kayak rentals will be available at the Standing Paddle Co. under the deck of the Beach House along Lake Decatur. The 2022 season will begin Memorial Day weekend and run through Labor Day weekend.
Stand up paddle board rental rates range from $15 for 30 minutes to $65 for a full day. Kayak rates range from $10 for 30 minutes to $60 for a full day.
For more information, go to standingpaddleco.com or call 217-433-7433.
Mount Zion Auto Express now open
Mount Zion Auto Services, located at 325 N. State Highway 121, has expanded to the building next door.
“At the main shop, we do all repairs,” said co-owner Josh Rankins. “At the Mount Zion Auto Express, we’re going to do just tire rotations, oil changes and inspections.”
Mount Zion Auto Express is in the former Jan Master Cleaning Services building.
The new business opened this month. “But it’s just business as usual,” Rankins said.
The business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The owners are hoping to offer extended hours in the future.
“This was just a means to get more room in our shop,” Rankins said, noting they were providing three to five oil changes daily, using space that could be used for more extensive repairs.
“And to open it up as an extra service to the community to be able to get their oil changed.” No appointment is needed for the Auto Express services.
Donnette Beckett
Have you opened a new business in Macon County in the past year or so? Maybe you’ve moved or added another location. Let the Herald & Review help you spread the word about you and your business. Send information to Scott Perry at s[email protected] or Donnette Beckett, [email protected]
