Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Senate bill would allow businesses to collect taxes on items bought online.
By B.A. Morelli, Patch editor Senators and business groups are debating the merits of a pending Senate bill that would allow for the collection of sales taxes on items bought online. The Marketplace Fairness Act would require businesses with more than $1 million in annual Internet or catalog revenue to collect sales tax for online purchases and send them to the state where the buyer resides. A Huffington Post report cites a National Conference of State Legislatures estimate that states collectively lost $23.3 billion in sales tax revenue in 2012 due to online sales. The U.S. Senate could vote on the bill, which has bi-partisan support and the blessing of President Obama, as soon as Wednesday. Supporters say the bill would help retailers …
Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest business owners tell Patch how their businesses came about and what makes them unique in town.
Business: Tan Travel, 964 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park Owner: Lydia Villanueva Soto (answers provided by Bri Julius) Write a review of Tan Travel. How did the business come to be? Lydia Villanueva Soto worked with the previous owner for 15 years and in 2007, she decided to sell it to someone who would continue the business. Therefore, Lydia bought the agency five years ago, and moved from Marion Street to its current location on south Oak Park Avenue. Why did you choose the area? Serving the Oak Park community is something that we hold very close to our hearts. Lydia has lived in south Oak Park for 20 years and she wanted to be close to work and within the Southtown Business District. What does your business offer? Travel services, …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Patrons can get wine tastings, special offers and more at participating businesses for this April 20 event.
Forest Park shops and restaurants are uniting to help people enjoy an afternoon of wine and shopping. Presented by Famous Liquors and hosted by the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce & Development, the Wine Walk is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20 in Forest Park. Locally-owned Madison Street specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants will be open during Wine Walk & Shop and featuring sales, special offers, appetizers and more. Tickets are $35 per person, and include a wine glass and map of tasting locations, plus a bottle of wine that can be picked up at Famous Liquors the week following the event. Each participating vendor will have three different styles of wine available to taste. Registration forms are available at: Participants …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Val's Halla Records and Old School Records will have live music and more next Saturday, April 20.
The advent of MP3s, online releases and video sharing has made the lives of record store owners more difficult. Just last year, Val's Halla Records in Oak Park was struggling to survive. Then a group of friends and music fans created a "Help Val Keep the Lights On" fundraiser. The Christmas shopping season was a success, and owner Val Camilletti said things are going pretty well now, but could always be better. "Vinyl is making a big comeback," she said. "It's out-selling CDs 4-to-1 right now." Next weekend, enter what they call "Christmas 2": Record Store Day. Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture of record…
Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest business owners tell Patch how their businesses came about and what makes them unique in town.
Business: Schauer Hardware, 7449 Madison St. in Forest Park Owner: Richard Schauer Write a review of Schauer Hardware. How did the business come to be? The store has been in Forest Park since, I believe, 1920. But the Schauer Family has been here for 16 years. I am third generation of hardware owner. Why did you choose the area? At the time Peaslee had the store and it seemed to be a great neighborhood/area to keep a hardware store. And it still is! What does your business offer? What don't I do for customers? We cut glass, keys, pipe, shades, wood, plexiglass...We sell hardware, paint, plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden, tools, Weber grills. We try to do it all. But service will always be there! What's something interesting about your …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
23 businesses participated in the program, which provides free utility audits and more educational ways to "green" the bottom line.
Local businesses are going green as part of an Oak Park Development Corporation program aimed at sustainability practices and saving some green in the process. OPDC, which works toward economic growth, is helping 23 businesses from Oak Park and River Forest with the program, which has funding support from the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation and the Village of River Forest. Businesses participating in the one-year program receive two free audits, five educational seminars, free products and installations, networking opportunities and a marketing kit to announce greening efforts to consumers. Participants will also learn about efforts that other local businesses have made in sustainability areas of waste and recycling, energy…
Monday, April 15, 2013
Business Comings & Goings: A quick look at what's happening in the business community in Forest Park, River Forest and Oak Park.
Pay What You Can Promotion Maya Del Sol in Oak Park is offering customers a chance to pay what they think is fair for their dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight, April 15. It's the fifth year the restaurant has offered this promotion on Tax Day. Customers will be given a menu without any prices, and when they finish eating they can write what they believe is fair to pay. This applies only to the food menu. Tax and gratuity is also excluded. “Paying taxes is often stressful for a lot of people," general manager Paul Abu-Taleb said. "With that in mind, we want to turn things around and give our customers a chance to feel like they are in control and also have some fun by setting their own price for their meal." Element Cyclesport …
We'll give a "shout out" to local small businesses who fill out the form below and upload a picture.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Check out the top 10 rated restaurants in Forest Park and Oak Park, based on Yelp! reviews. Did your neighbors get it right?
Websites such as Yelp! have empowered the everyday eater to become their local neighborhood's food critic, praising and damning behind the anonymity of a computer screen. So what do your neighbors have to say on Yelp? Based on Yelp!'s highest-rated star ranking, here are the top 10 restaurants in Forest Park and Oak Park. And remember, you can review these places on Patch by clicking their names below. Do you agree or disagree with the Yelp! top 10 list? Let us know in the comments' section. FIND MORE RESTAURANTS TO REVIEW
Friday, March 15, 2013
Looking for a job around Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest? Find out list here and add any more openings you know about.
Welcome to Job Hunters, a weekly column for local job seekers and employers. We've compiled some opportunities in the Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest area thanks to jobs sites such as Indeed, Monster and Career Builder, as well as other resources. Are you an employer? If you're hiring and want to be included, comment below with more information or email editor Michael Sewall atmichael.sewall@patch.com. You can also share job openings in our Local Voices section directly on the site: Post to Forest Park Patch / Post to OPRF Patch Mr. Handyman of Oak Park & River Forest is hiring service technicians. Village of Oak Park is hiring an attorney, a engineering technician and more. See all openings. The Park District of Oak Park is …
Terry Collins
7:16 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
It would be too complex for business to handle. My statement is based on the myriad of local, add on sales taxes in Illinois. At best, only the base state tax should be collected. more ›