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On Oct. 10, 1981, Howard and Sandy Sanders got married in a small lakeside ceremony — so small it was just the two of them and an officiant.
A little over 40 years later, the couple’s approach to tying the knot has given their daughter an idea: founding the business 10.10 Elopements to help couples get hitched without a hitch.
“I just noticed that the wedding business is so expensive, and there’s really no signs of it slowing down,” said Emily Suddarth, who is also a Spanish teacher at Unity High School. “And there wasn’t much option besides courthouse if you wanted to do something on a smaller scale or a non-church location, I guess. And so I’m giving couples the opportunity to get married on a smaller budget, a unique location.”
Suddarth will meet couples at the time, date and location of their choosing and serve as both an officiant and a photographer. She’ll also deliver the marriage license to the courthouse for filing.
While Suddarth had a wedding herself, she said her parents’ story inspired her.
“There is another option,” she said. “You don’t have to have the big, thousands of dollars wedding.”
More information is available at 1010elopements.com, and Suddarth said couples are welcome to talk to her and learn more before deciding if elopement is right for them.
H-Mart set to open in early 2025
Renovations to convert a former Save A Lot at 220 N. Broadway Ave. in Urbana into the first H-Mart in downstate Illinois are almost finished.
Andrea Ruedi, the city of Urbana’s senior advisor for integrated strategy development, said the target date for completion is Dec. 18.
“Remaining work includes refrigeration case installation, minor carpentry work, and the delivery and installation of equipment,” she said. “A grand opening is planned for mid-January 2025. The H Mart food court will include a bakery and three authentic Asian cuisine restaurants. They plan to have a hiring event on site.”
Mayor Diane Marlin added that the city, while supportive of the project, is not involved with its construction.
Job openings for the store have been posted online and can be found at hmart.com/about-us/careers.
Baldarotta’s leaves Lincoln Square
Paris Baldarotta, co-owner of Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage, has confirmed that the business no longer plans to reopen its Lincoln Square Mall location.
“We decided to close it for good,” she told The News-Gazette.
The restaurant recently opened a new brick-and-mortar location at 208 W. Griggs St. in Urbana.
Cloud Mountain Kombucha also plans to move out of the mall and into the same building as Baldarotta’s and 25 O’Clock Brewing Company, with a projected opening date in the first quarter of 2025.
West Champaign bar expects to remain open despite property being for sale
A building near Parkland College that is currently home to a bar and club is for sale. However, the business hopes to remain open even as its landlord changes.
The Littlefield Group with Keller Williams Realty shared on social media that the property at 1906 W. Bradley Ave., home of The Park Bar & Grill, is for sale.
P.J. Singh, who owns the bar, said it will continue running as normal, and he would expect to stay on under the new owner, whomever that may be.
The property has been home to multiple businesses over the years, including Bradley’s, Rafters Draft & Dough and 51 Main.
“It brings in great crowds throughout the week, currently operating as a nightclub, with significant potential for a range of commercial uses,” Keller Williams Realty wrote.
The property, currently owned by Ghuman Premier Properties LLC per county records, is listed at homesearchil.com with an asking price of $1.1 million.
The two-story building offers just under 6,900 square feet altogether, with the real-estate firm noting that the site is close to Parkland, the University of Illinois, student housing and downtown Champaign.
In the market for a merry Christmas
Mistletoe Market, presented by NORDEN at home, is back for the holiday season and will feature locally made gifts from over 70 rotating vendors starting this weekend, organizers said.
The market, which had its opening day yesterday, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on three upcoming Saturdays. On Nov. 30, it will be held at The Orpheum at 346 N. Neil St. in Champaign. On Dec. 7 and 14, it will be held at the Lincoln Square Mall at 201 Lincoln Square in Urbana.
“The Mistletoe Market is really about bringing the local community and local makers, artisans and artists together,” said co-organizer Anna Gutsch. “Many vendors are deeply engaged in the creation of their goods and when customers purchase from them, they not only support a local family-business but also the continuation of their craft.”
More information is available at mistletoemarketcu.com and @nordenathome on Facebook and Instagram.
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