Welcome news on the retail front: di Olivas, an olive oil shop with locations in St. Charles and West County Center, will be opening a store on Euclid between Jimmy John’s and the Community Walgreens Pharmacy, above, across from Whole Foods. Word from David Strom, who recently visited with the proprietor, is that the shop, which will carry vinegars, pastas, mustards and of course olives, will open in January.
On the flip side: Dennis Gorj, proprietor of Coffee Cartel and West End Tan emailed:
“On December 27th I am closing West End Tan, 4744 McPherson Ave. There is an opportunity for a different new business for that space and given the business has seen a decline in tanning for the past year or two, now’s a good time to yield to something else.”
Gorj continued, “I fondly remember the days in the early 80’s walking business to business selling playbook ads for Crossroads School’s play. As a junior high student living in the CWE, I had an awesome playground. Midnight Sun tanning salon on McPherson always took out an ad and always supported neighborhood efforts. Flash forward 30 year later I was giving the opportunity to buy West End Tan in 2008. I felt it was a good opportunity to keep an institution alive and well. As our community grows less folks are choosing indoor tanning as an option, so I have decided to close West End Tan effective December 27th. It’s been a wonderful experience and the neighborhood has always supported my business, we will miss you all.”