Would an Online Sales Tax Help Libertyville Businesses?

The Marketplace Fairness Act would give states the ability to collect online sales taxes.

The Senate cleared the way this week for the passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act, which requires businesses with more than $1 million in Internet sales to pay sales taxes to the state where the buyer resides, Slate reported.  While a 1992 Supreme Court decision allows for taxing online sales, states don’t collect online sales tax unless the buyer voluntarily sends it.  In 2012, states collectively lost an estimated $23.3 billion in sales tax revenue due to online sales according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Huffington Post reported. Michael Mazerov of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says the Marketplace Fairness Act would make tax collections slightly more progressive, since poorer Americans are less…

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New Restaurant Owners to Keep Old Business’ Influence

The new owners of the former Henry Yee location plans to keep some of the Chinese restaurant's popular items on its new menu.

Maria Mandarino and Dan Temesy plan to open up a new restaurant at the former Henry Yee location in May. The two, who have been business partners for 20 years, will keep some popular Henry Yee items on their menu. They have not decided on a name for the new venture at 624 N. Milwaukee Ave., but Mandarino says she “would like to do Asian-influenced cuisine but with my own personal twist.” Items that were popular at Henry Yee’s, such as General Tsao’s chicken, sesame prawns, orange beef, egg rolls and wontons will remain. Mandarino plans to expand the egg roll and wonton selection and offer her own versions, such as making wontons with real crabmeat. “Maybe people will be happy because they can get the old version or be happier because they …

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Libertyville Sees More Businesses Open, Expand

While several businesses have closed in Libertyville, village officials see hopeful numbers during down economy.

This summer, Libertyville saw the closing of stores such as Whatsit & Doohickey Co. and Adrienne Clarisse Intimate Boutique, but village officials say more businesses opened or expanded than closed in 2011. Since the start of 2011, the village of Libertyville has issued approvals for 53 business openings, expansions, or relocations, while 28 businesses have closed, according to an Illinois Department of Revenue report. “Where we’ve had some losses, we’ve actually had more gains,” said Heather Rowe, Libertyville's economic development coordinator. “That says a lot about the strength of the community.” Many of the new or expanded entities were retail or personal service businesses, according to Rowe. She also says that many of the people …

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Video: LexiWynn offers Unique Ways for Self Expression

Libertyville-based LexiWynn hosts parties where customers can custom order bags.

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Patch Profile

First Groupon Offered on Main Street Libertyville

Local business had 30 new customers in the deal's first week.

Back in mid January, a downtown olive oil store leveraged the power of collective bargaining to attract new customers. Dr. Sandra Shuenemann, co-owner of Oh, Olive!, approached Groupon, a Chicago-based company, to offer discounts. But there was a catch; the deal would only be valid for a short period of time and only if enough people purchased it. Shuenemann set deal to “tip” or become valid if 50 people purchased a coupon. Close to 900 Groupons were sold. The downside to Groupons is that the company gets half of the deal while the merchants gets the other half. “You are only getting a quarter of what people are leaving your store with,” Shuenemann explains. “So I guess you’d have to be willing to take the chance that you’d get enough …

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Marielle S

12:16 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I think you've got it exactly right. The initial deal may not be super lucrative to the businesses, but it gets new people in the door, and if those new people love the product, they're going to come back. I am an avid Groupon user and it's found me some of my favorite places in the city and suburbs and saved me money on ones I already know and love (like the recent Gino's East one...yum!) . It's…   more ›

PatchPicks: Boutiques

Looking for cool boutiques to browse or shop in? Here are some of our favorite.

1. Full DisClothesure This consignment store specializes in the sale of women’s apparel. Depending on your luck and what is sold that week you may find designer tops by Michael Kors or shoes from Coach.  2. Adrienne Clarisse Intimate Boutique This lingerie boutique offers customers a comfortable environment to explore and embrace their femininity. Personal bra fittings are free of charge and employees help as little or as much as customers are comfortable with. 3. ReNew Family Consignment Apart from selling clothes, this consignment store also sells musical instruments, sporting equipment and furniture. Several of the stores consignors designate their proceeds from sales for local non-profits. 4. Forest Bootery This high-end shoe store …

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Patch Profile

A New Framing Technique: Mat Shimmers

A local business owner recently trademarked a new framing technique.

After three years, John Timony, owner of Curtis Frame and Back Alley Gallery, recently showcased a new trademarked technique for framing at Wine About Winter on Saturday. The new technique, Mat Shimmers, enhances matt boards by adhering recycled-glass beads onto the boards. Timony says it’s another device to complement objects being framed. “I was looking for subtle additive effect that wouldn’t become the main object in the picture,” Timony said. “The beads allow light to go in and refract itself out, as opposed to reflect. In that refraction process, it’s picking up the color behind it, or what it’s sitting on.” It's all in the Light Light plays a big part in the visual effect of Mat Shimmers. “The nice thing about the bead is it …

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Patch Profile

Libertyville Mom Launches Lego-themed Store

C&A Robot Factory will host its grand opening Feb. 5.

Lidia Voelker knew she wanted a business where she could spend time with her kids. The single mother of two had considered launching an art coop but realized that in this down economy she spends money on her kids and not herself—so she turned to her kids for advice. “We were driving in the car one day and I asked them, ‘What’s your favorite thing to do?’” Voelker said. “Their answer was Lego.” And that was how C&A Robot Factory was born. Inspired by Kids The robotic factory at 326 Peterson Road will open Feb. 5. It offers Lego play areas and robotics classes where kids build Lego with working models and sensors. The “C” and “A” in the store’s name stands for Voelker’s nine-year-old son Christian, and three-year-old son Austin. “Christian …

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