Corporate parent Bon-Ton will close more than 200 stores nationwide, including all Carson’s stores like this one at the Yorktown Mall in Lombard. (Photo by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

STATE

Parent company announces closing of Carson’s, other stores

It’s the end of the line for Carson’s.

The onetime iconic retailer, which once operated from a Louis Sullivan-designed flagship store in downtown Chicago, will be shuttered along with other stores in a Bon-Ton chain  that includes Bergner’s, Younkers, Boston Store,  Elder-Beerman and Herberger’s.

Carson’s operated 30 stores in Illinois including 26 in the Chicago area. All told, more than 200 Bon-Ton stores will close after a federal bankruptcy judge approved the company’s sale to a pair of liquidation firms.

“Bon-Ton will conduct an orderly wind-down of its operations and is committed to minimizing the impact of this development on our associates, customers, vendors and the communities we serve,” the company said in a statement last Wednesday. “We expect the liquidation process in all Bon-Ton stores to begin shortly.”

Several Carson’s stores were closed earlier this year, including an Aurora clearance center and locations in Schaumburg, DeKalb and Chicago.

ELGIN

Grand Victoria Casino sold to Las Vegas firm

Grand Victoria Casino has  been sold to Las Vegas-based Eldorado Resorts, Inc. for a reported $327.5 million in cash.

According to a Eldorado Resorts news release, the company says it can increase profitability in 18 months “based on expected operating synergies and cost savings.”

The company intends to fund the proposed transaction using cash from previously announced asset sales, cash from ongoing operations and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is subject to a customary working capital adjustment.

There is no news at this time whether the sale of the company might affect the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund, which supports projects that help strengthen Kane County communities and improve the quality of life for area residents. In 2017, the Kane County Board budgeted $775,307 for the initiative. However, past changes of ownership have not affected that funding agreement.

The property features 1,088 slot machines, 30 table games, a 12-table poker room and four dining options, including Prime BurgerHouse, the award-winning Buckinghams Steakhouse & Lounge, the Indulge Show Kitchen Buffet and the 24-hour Crave Deli.

It also offers 7,495 square feet of meeting and banquet space, event and concert facilities, a 1,450-space parking garage, and additional surface parking for 600 vehicles.

AURORA

Magic Festival tickets increase on May 5

Ticket prices for the Downtown Aurora Magic Festival — formerly the Harry Potter Festival — will increase after an in-person sale on May 4 at the Food Truck Festival.

Tickets will increase from $10 to $15 on May 5. The festival takes place on Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ticket sales for the follow-up to the successful Aurora’s Harry Potter Festival are now under way. Organizers cite the need to plan ahead in order to keep costs down as the reason behind the end of the early-bird discount.

“Many of our activities require a great deal of prep work from our volunteers prior to the festival.

Our supplies can be ordered in bulk, lowering our costs, as long as we know how many people

to prepare for,” said festival director Kate Purl.

Ticketed guests can enjoy classes, games, entertainment, and a costume contest, along with

other activities during the festival.

Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite at: www.downtownauroramagic.eventbrite.com.

Tickets can also be purchased at the Food Truck Festival during downtown Aurora’s First

Fridays celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. on May 4.

WHEATON

Commission plans recount of DuPage/Kane fire district vote

The DuPage County Election Commission will recount the votes for the Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District referendum seeking an increase in the property tax extension.

According to a news release sent today (Wednesday, April 18, 2018), the DuPage Election Commission will conduct a discovery recount of certain precinct results from the March 20, 2018, General Primary Election at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, in the office of the DuPage County Election Commission Production Facility, 2580 Diehl Road, Aurora.

On election night, it appeared that the referendum failed by 32 votes out of 4,022 ballots cast.

Kane County’s canvassed vote totals show 1,868 “yes” votes and 1,921 “no” votes — the same numbers reported on election night.

DuPage County’s unofficial totals were 127 “yes” and 106 “no” on election night, resulting in totals of 1,995 “yes” and 2,027 “no” votes.

The DuPage County Election Commission experienced an issue following the close of polls on election night that delayed the reporting of results. Officials said the problem involved an outside vendor’s printing of an “Ender Card” form which did not conform with the printing bid specifications.

DuPage officials said on April 4 that the issue “did not affect any voter’s ability to cast a ballot at the polls, nor did it affect the count of ballots processed at the polling place, the memory cards, or the integrity of the process.”

GENEVA

City launches online cemetery maps

People seeking information about Geneva’s two cemeteries can now access a public information map on the city’s website.

During the past several years, the city has been compiling data from both Oak Hill and West Side cemeteries regarding burials, lot ownership and plot availability to post online. Map users can search for relatives by last name or zoom in on the map to view particular sections and information about the cemetery.

• Oak Hill Cemetery, 799 Bennett St., has more than 4,500 people interred. About 600 lots are available in sections R, W and Z.
• West Side Cemetery has reached capacity with more than 1,000 people buried at 301 Stevens St.

Geneva’s cemetery information can be found under the “City Government” tab and selecting the Public Works Department on the city’s website at www.geneva.il.us. Then click on “cemetery” and look for the subhead “Online Maps.” There you’ll see the links for Oak Hill and West Side cemeteries.

People also can call the Geneva Public Works Department at 630-232-1502.

ST. CHARLES

City seeks developers to wrap up First St. project

The City of St. Charles is seeking developers to complete the remaining three buildings in the First Street Redevelopment Project.

The buildings offer an opportunity to complete a vibrant, mixed-use environment along the south First Street corridor in the heart of downtown St. Charles.

There are three remaining buildings in the project— 6, 7B and 8—located south and west of the corner of First and Illinois streets. Construction of these buildings is anticipated to begin in 2019 and will finish out the project.

The remaining three buildings are envisioned as mixed use with ground floor commercial. Potential upper level uses could include office and/or residential space. The city is seeking creative proposals that will provide a balance of uses among these buildings.

First Street is a multi-phase project that began in 2007. The first two phases of the project are complete. Phase III, which includes construction along the riverfront between Main and Illinois streets, currently is underway. The first three buildings of this phase are in various stages of completion and are mostly occupied.

A Request for Proposals has been posted to the City of St. Charles website, at www.stcharlesil.gov/projects/First-Street-RFP. Inquiries can be directed to Rita Tungare, Director of Community and Economic Development, at (630) 377-4443 or rtungare@stcharlesil.gov. Proposals will be accepted through July 13, 2018.

–Kane County News Briefs–