Avalanche Jewelry, located right downtown Mokena at 11020 Front Street, has been a family-owned business for more than 30 years. From custom-made possibilities, to ready-made varieties in an assortment of glass cases all around the store, Avalanche has a wide variety of options for last-minute holiday shoppers or year-round jewelry fans. They can also repair jewelry, which is a great gift option for someone who already has a nostalgic piece of jewelry they love. Sometimes, the store will even buy pieces from known customers. No matter what you decide, at Avalanche Jewelers, they will work …

If the first Midwest snowfall got you storing your gym shoes away until spring, you’ll want to visit 2nd Wind Exercise, located at 19848 LaGrange Road in Mokena. 2nd Wind sells high-quality brands of treadmills, ellipticals, stationery bikes,steppers, home gyms and more, along with dumbbells, plates, fitness balls,bands and other accessories. According to their website, 96 percent of theirinventory is brand new. Aside from what they sell, 2nd Wind also offers equipment repairs, free in-store personal training, custom workout plans for life, trade-in or buy-back options, installation and …

Need to come up with a Christmas list? Need to find a gift for your children or spouse? Instead of wrapping something under the tree, why not purchase a gift that keeps on giving, such as horseback riding lessons? Country Meadow Farm, located at 12635 Bruce Road in Mokena, is a family-owned horse farm specializing in horse training and riding lessons. Michael and Dale Arnston and Julie Anne Arnston-Wroble own the farm and take care of the horses and riders. According to Dale Arnston, when riders become interested in doing shows, they travel the country and take their riders and horses to …

Do you know about The Little Guys in Mokena? They could really come in handy for your holiday shopping. Not only do they sell all the latest electronic gadgets, perfect for large gifts or stocking stuffers, they also conduct services and can fix what you’ve been putting off for far too long. The Little Guys, located at 19031 S. Old Lagrange Road, is a family-owned business. Here is what owner Evie Wexler had to say about it. How did you get started in the business? David and Evie Wexler are the owners of The Little Guys. David has been working in this business since he was a teen. Evie …

Pink Slip Boutique in Mokena opened a new division of the store, PS: I Love You, on Nov. 2 at 18907 S. Wolf Road. Most everything in the store is designed and created by Debbie McKeague, mother of owner Lauren McKeague. If you haven’t had a chance to stop in yet, here is some insight from Lauren McKeague about one of Mokena’s newest one-stop shops for crafts, gifts and holiday décor: How did your mom first get into making crafty items? My mom has been creating and designing since I was young. We don't think of her items as crafts, per say, but decorative, embellished designs for the home and …

Mindful Movements, located at 19612 LaGrange Road, is a yoga-based fitness studio in Mokena, owned and operated by Julie Danno. Classes are available Monday through Saturday, with classes in the morning and evening. All of the classes are instructed by Danno and two certified instructors, Elyssa Buthuis and Angela Meltzer. The schedule, payment options and class descriptions are all available on the studio's website. Mindful Movement's Facebook page provides up-to-date information, such as class schedule updates and specials. The November special is an unlimited class package for new members …

Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to prepare yourself, and your home, for the seemingly never-ending holiday season ahead. Whether your next step is to dust off Indian and pilgrim statues, or dig right into the Santa Claus and garland décor, it’s a special time for you and your home. Linda E. Nesci, owner of Unique Interiors, Ltd. in Mokena, is dedicated to making your home look top-notch year-round, whether that means window treatments, flooring, furniture or décor. Here’s some insight she offered Patch during a recent interview. How did the business first begin? Unique Interiors, Ltd. …

There isn’t anything quite like indulging in a scent that reminds you of your favorite season, holiday or food. For instance, in the fall, you can come home after a long day of work and be greeted by the aroma of pumpkin spice. Coincidentally, pumpkin spice candles are on special at Marley Candles in Mokena this month. Each month, the family-owned business provides different specials for their customers to enjoy, which is helpful when it comes to choosing one aroma from a multitude of options. Three women from the small town of Marley started the company in the 1960s. They purchased an …

Ajene (Jay) Carter of Chicago said he and his wife visit El Cortez Restaurant in Mokena about four times a month. Just recently, he began bringing his father, who is a very picky eater. “El Cortez serves amazing authentic food at a very reasonable price,” Carter said. His favorite dish is of Camerones a La Diabla, which he said is “a very flavorful dish with a nice kick, seasoned perfectly with rice and toritillas to balance out the spice.” His next favorite is the mini burritos with melted cheese, refried beans, bacon and either chicken or steak, topped with homemade salsa. “Sorry, I got …

Small, large, family-owned and franchise businesses fill Mokena’s streets. When you pass a business, you automatically read the name on the sign and decide if you’d like to stop. Without the sign, how would you differentiate one building from the next? That’s where Signs Now in Mokena comes in. Signs Now, located at 9981 190th Street, Suite K, creates signs and marketing tactics for local businesses and clients all over the country. The company is part of a franchise that began in the 1980s, and Fred Osborne opened shop in Mokena at Route 45 and Willow Lane in January 2000. They moved to …

If you’d like to embark on a healthy lifestyle that is a different approach than what standard health-care provides, or you’d just like to get rid of that annoying backache, Body Bliss Wellness Center in Mokena could be your answer. Body Bliss, located at 18700 Wolf Road, Suite 211, is your one-stop center for alternative medicine. While chiropractic care is the center’s most popular service, according to Ronald Berger, a doctor of chiropractic at Body Bliss, they also offer massage, acupuncture, nutrition counseling, microdermabrasion, facials, facial rejuvenation and ear candling. Body …

If you meant to send flowers to someone special for Labor Day, you’re too late. However, holiday season is right around the corner, and Paradise Flowers & Gifts in Mokena is ready. In fact, in order to make room for Christmas gifts and décor, they are offering much of their in-store merchandise for 50 percent off through October. Also, from now through October, if you bring in a minimum of 10 medium to large-size vases, you’ll receive a free bouquet of flowers. Paradise Flowers & Gifts, located at 9626 Willow Lane, is co-owned by sisters Candice Molek and Jennifer Holman. Molek said she had …

Catherine Anderson began inventing homemade sweet creations, such as homemade fudge made with German chocolate and numerous flavors of roasted nuts, and later began selling her creations at festivals, markets and local businesses. One local business that sold her products was Front Porch Coffee & Gift Co. in Palos. After the store relocated to Mokena, Anderson was offered the store in February 2010. Anderson, along with her mother Bonnie Anderson, bought Front Porch Coffee & Gift Co. and have co-owned it ever since. While Anderson said she is in charge of the food and drink aspect of the shop…

Marie Martinez, a resident of New Lenox, has helped her father, a resident of Mokena, deal with the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years. One of the major battles he has dealt with is finding food options that don’t include sugar. As Richard Martinez has always said, “Everybody deserves a dessert.” That motto has become the driving force behind Sugarless World Bakery, Mokena’s newest business as of Aug. 27, the date planned for its grand opening, according to Marie Martinez. The bakery has been a long time coming, and the pair has put much time and effort into making it happen…

If you decided to check out Health Nutz, Mokena’s health food store, after my column last week, why not take it a step further and include your dog in the healthy, all-natural approach to living? I’ll Be Doggone is a full-service grooming salon, boutique and bakery for dogs. Not only does the store sell dog food and freshly baked treats, but all of the food is natural, with no fillers and no wheat or corn products. Cindy Marden, owner of I’ll Be Doggone, said she decided to open the store six years ago because of her passion for pets and her passion for baking, which she managed to combine …

It's getting easier to eat a healthy, all-natural meal in America, with an increase in organic and gluten-free sections at grocery stores, farmers markets (or French Markets) in nearly every town and low-calorie dishes available on restaurant menus. Health Nutz, Mokena’s only health store, aims to take the all-natural movement a step further by selling only the most natural food items and supplements available. According to Jann Morlan, co-owner of Health Nutz, everything in the store is healthy. “Everything is either organic or very natural here, and nothing is genetically modified,” Morlan …

Let’s say you’re a mom of three, always having a meal to cook or a child to drive somewhere. By the time the kids are in bed and you have free time, unless you own your own tanning bed, it’s way too late to sneak in a tan. Or, perhaps you work the night shift and peak business hours are your only time to sleep. You’d have to choose what’s more important to you, sleeping or tanning. You no longer have to choose in Mokena, now that 24 Hour Tan has opened. This is Illinois’ first, manager Nafis Noorali said. “We’re part of a franchise, mostly out of Minnesota, Georgia and Texas,” Noorali said. “…

There’s nothing like keeping your stove off and indulging in a crisp, colorful salad to keep you cool during the hot summer weather. When purchasing the ingredients for your salad, consider stopping by Brandau's Farm Stand in Mokena. Brandau’s Farm Stand supplies produce as local and fresh as you’ll find. Jim Brandau began the stand 28 years ago in Mokena, his son Kyle Brandau said. Jim had previously joined his dad, Kyle's grandfather, in the farming operations in 1975. It was then a corn, soybean and wheat farm. Jim Brandau purchased land in Mokena in 1983 and began raising produce. “My dad…

It’s that point in the summer where the heat and your children’s restlessness both reach their peak.  If your kids aren’t too sure what to do with all their energy, especially when it’s too hot to play outside, consider signing them up for gymnastic lessons. Gymnastics is no foreign subject to Mokena residents. Lincoln-Way High School Co-Op boys’ gymnastics team won the 2011 state championship this year. Also, Mokena is home to multiple gymnastic and tumbling training opportunities. The Mokena Community Park District offers a variety of gymnastics programs that take place at Gym-Kinetics, …

If you need a new haircut, or a new style altogether, turns out you could find up to 22 specialty stylists under one roof. Mokena is home to A Suite Salon, a family-owned business that houses independent stylists doing their work in individual salon rooms. The way it works is this: You walk up to the door of A Suite Salon, where you will find business cards and fliers for each of the independent salons inside. The information will provide you with a list services, prices and phone numbers. After you make an appointment with the stylist who best fits your needs or schedule, that stylist will …