Newest Chamber Members

    Please welcome the following businesses, individuals, and organizations who have recently joined the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. If you'd like more information on the benefits of chamber membership or would like to join, please click here.

      Time For You Salon, 2506 Court, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 353-4444; www.myspace.com/timeforyoutoo; Sue Lance, owner; Angie Bennett, Deb McKeown, Joy Evans, hair stylists; Time For You Salon offers cutting, color, hi lites, low lites, perms, updos, styling, wax (eyebrows, lip bikini, brazilian, legs, armpits), pedicures, manicures, gel polish, scalp massage, and high fashion color. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm.

      Acorn Properties and Investments, LLC, 1012 Mary Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 267-1195; Gary Simpson, Owner; Real estate investment company dealing in residential rentals, home purchases and remodeling.

     John Vespa, 2318 W. Imperial Drive, Peoria, IL 61614. (309) 645-8608; john@vespaforjudge.com; www.vespaforjudge.com;   Peoria attorney John Vespa is seeking the Republican nomination for judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit. He is running for the seat that is being vacated by his oldest brother, The Honorable Judge Joe Vespa. John was born and raised in Peoria and has practiced both civil and criminal law in his private practice for the past 18 years. A former Police Officer, John is also an active volunteer in The Special Olympics, The LAMP Program that provides free legal aid to active duty military families, and is a coach and sponsor of multiple Park District and Christian Center Sports Teams. The 10th Judicial Circuit includes Peoria , Tazewell, Stark, Marshall and Putnam Counties. John is seeking your vote in the primary election on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, and in the general election in November, 2010.

   Julie McElwee State Farm Agency, 1000 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 347-3484; fax 347-6573; www.juliesf.com, Julie McElwee, julie@juliesf.com; Katie Bashary; Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, offering auto, renters, home and life insurance, plus financial services. Our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams.

     Intellihot Green Technologies, Inc., 801 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL 61606; (309) 495-7270; fax 296-8984; www.intellihot.com info@intellihot.com; Sridhar Deivasigamani, President; Sivaprasad Akasm, Vice President; Intellihot Green Technologies, Inc. has reinvented hot water with cutting edge tankless technology that provides instant, endless hot water and utilizes nearly all energy resources resulting in 100% plus efficiency.

     Enviro-Dry, Pekin, IL  (309) 267-6253; fax 642-6352; envirodry@mail.com; Beau Austin, Owner. Enviro-Dry is a carpet, tile and upholstery clearing service featuring Green Seal Certified Products. The cleaning is 97% dry, using only 1 teaspoon of water per square foot, featuring Host - the dry extraction carpet cleaning system. Enviro Dry leaves your carpets dry immediately after cleaning.

     5-Star Car Wash, 1401 N. 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554. Brad Harn, Owner. Re-opening soon, after the fire damage is repaired and new equipment is installed, 5-Star Car Wash will be open 24 hours with 3 self-serve bays and 1 touchless automatic bay. Watch for the grand re-opening soon!

     MIDWESTECH, Pekin, Illinois; (309) 981-1069; Bob Johns, Owner www.midwestech.net. MIDWESTECH is a new Information Technology (IT) company located in Pekin, Illinois and has been providing technology services to customers in the Pekin, Peoria and surrounding areas for over eight years. The owner of MIDWESTECH has served as an Operation’s Department Head, Director of Information Technology and as a Senior Windows Network Administrator in several reputable IT companies in Pekin and Peoria. MIDWESTECH has the invaluable skills necessary to serve your company as Support Technicians when you need them. This is an optimal solution for your company if you cannot afford to staff full time IT professionals in house. MIDWESTECH is also an authorized Dell retailer and in most cases, can pass their savings on to you when ordering new systems through them. MIDWESTECH has a broad range of services for both the home user and small business.

     Tazewell County Jaycees, Michelle Riggio, Chapter President; www.tazcojaycees.org. The Tazewell County chapter of the Jaycees provides leadership opportunities to empower young adults to achieve more.

     Mary Buress, Pekin, individual member. Mary has been the Deputy Treasurer for Tazewell County for 21 years and has been in the Treasurer's office for over 25 years. Mary is a Republican candidate for the 2010 Tazewell County Treasurer position. The current Treasurer, Duane Gray is retiring. She is also a newly elected Cincinnati Township Trustee.

     Pekin Glass and Mirror, 332 Derby, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 347-6158; fax 347-1778; Holly Payne, Vice President; pekinglass@omnilec.com Open 8am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday. Pekin Glass and Mirror is a glass contractor, selling and installing storefronts, shower doors, and mirrors.

     Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area, 931 N. Douglas, Peoria, IL 61606; (309) 676-6729; fax 676-6409; www.habitatpeoria.org Greg Woith, Executive Director. Habitat for Humanity builds homes and sells them to qualified low income applicants with a 20-year interest free mortgage.

     Liberation Software, Inc.,309 N. 6th, Suite B, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 282-6249; sales@liberationsoft.com www.liberationsoft.com; Trent Lawrence, President; Lance Waidzunas, Sales & Marketing Manager. Liberation Software is a dual-purpose information technology firm specializing in software development, high-speed connectivity, terminal services solutions, and small to medium-sized business IT consulting. Open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

     Jim Jones , Pekin, IL. Retired member.

     Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 333 State Street and soon at 3201 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 347-2020; fax 347-9099; gsls@grics.net; www.goodshepherdpekin.net; Ralph Mickley, Principal. Good Shepherd Lutheran School provides Christ-centered education with high academic standards for children in the community from preschool through the eighth grade. Good Shepherd is part of the mission and ministry of three Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod congregations in the Pekin area: St. John's, Pekin; Trinity, Pekin; and St. John's, Green Valley.

     SJB Promotions, 38615 SR 10, Mason City, IL 62664; (217) 482-9100; fax 482-9102; Jill Douglas, Independent Contractor. jill@sjbpromotions.com www.sjbpromotions.com SJB Promotions can help you find products to improve traffic at trade shows, motivate your staff, thank a customer, or increase safety awareness. From fun items to the traditional, they can help you easily find some of the hottest items on the market.

     Paradise Donuts, 815 N. 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 353-6887; Crista Flynn, Owner. Paradise Donuts offers a vast variety of donuts, fritters and bearclaws. Very special made-from-scratch sausage rolls are also available. Coming soon - Thumbprint Cookies and Jumer's Cinnamon Rolls. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 5:30 am to 10:00 am and on Saturday, 6:30 am to 10:30 am. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

    Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza, 1807 Broadway Road, Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 347-5051, fax 347-5059; IL058@papamurphy Matt Dickey, Store Manager www.papamurphys.com Papa Murphy's is a high quality pizza product that you take home and bake. Always highest quality, value, quantity, and great service. Ranked #1 pizza chain by consumers six years in a row!! Hours are 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

     Pekin First Church of the Nazarene, 3514 E. Broadway Road, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 346-3053; www.PekinFirst.org office@pekinfirst.org Rev. Lloyd Brock, Senior Pastor. Pekin First Church of the Nazarene is a vibrant congregation of over 500 weekly attendees who seek to be a vital part of the Pekin community through spiritual influence, concern for the needs of Pekin, and helping to create a stronger, more positive community. We love Pekin!

     Fifth Third Processing Solutions, LLC, 2013 Highwood Ave, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 696-8636, fax 347-8057; Dave Shields, Merchant Sales Representative, dave_shields@hotmail.com. Fifth Third Processing Solutions is a comprehensive provider of payment strategies for businesses of all sizes across multiple industries. A pioneer in the introduction of credit card payments in the late 1960's, they have grown one client at a time to become one of the top processors in the nation. They are uniquely focused to provide a consultative approach to their merchant partners. They are the largest processor of online debit transactions in the U.S. They process over 28.4 billion transactions annually.

    Chateau on the Lake, 901 Chateau Drive, North Pekin, IL, 61554; 382-3414; Rebecca Moore, Manager. Chef John and Chef Konrad welcome you to their German/American Restaurant for family and friends. They feature large banquet facilities and a Sunday Brunch from 10:00am to 2:00pm. They also have a German Buffet the last Sunday of each month. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11:00am to 2:00pm and 4:00 to 8:00pm. Friday & Saturday 11:00am to 2:00pm and 4:00 to 9:00pm. Sundays are 10:00am to 2:00pm and 4:00 to 8:00pm for dinner. Closed Mondays.

     St. Paul Wonderland, 101 N. 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 353-5437; fax 353-7430. Ainsley Reeise, Director. 353KIDS@centurytel.net. Open from 6:30am to 6:00pm, St. Paul Wonderland is a local childcare center.

     Edward Jones ~ Chris Petersen, 1704 Court Street, Pekin, IL, 61554; (309) 346-6097; fax (888) 259-8176; Chris Petersen, Financial Advisor.  www.edwardjones.com. We offer a variety of investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities, municipal bonds, CDs, money market funds, IRAs, and more. Please visit Chris' Web page for more information.

     Pekin Coalition for Equality, 315 Buena Vista, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 347-9922; fax (309) 347-7457; pekinywca@grics.net; www.ywca.org/pekin; Melinda Figge, Executive Director. The Pekin Coalition for Equality is a not-for-profit organization with the purpose to foster a spirt of human understanding, to promote equal opportunity, and to eliminate discrimination. It is a program of the YWCA of Pekin. A volunteer committee assists with projects and programs for the community.

     Gamer's Choice, 1019 Derby Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 346-2008; Dan Johnson, owner. www.gamerschoiceinc.net  Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am to 8:00pm; Sunday, 12:00pm to 6:00pm; Monday, 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Gamer's Choice is an electronic video game store that carries all types of new and used video games from Atari to XBOX 360.  They have the highest trade-in value and you can try a game before you but it. They also host tournaments and rent games as well.

     Rich Gafford, Pekin, IL, non-business individual member

     Beer Belly's Bar and Grill, 2801 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 346-1154; Cory Hart & Terry Davison, Owners; Jeremy Isbell, Manager; James Porter, Director of Operations. Beer Belly's concept and design was developed from local entrepreneurs with one thing in mind. "Make the Customer Happy!" So they designed a fun social atmosphere for every type of personality and every type of appetite. They hope to be known for their great food and cold beer served up by their friendly staff. They have designed a new large game room, added 32 flat screen TVs, a stage for entertainment, and a layout that is sure to bring people together. Lunch starts at 11am and they keep serving the full menu until 12 midnight. They have a great menu that isn't your typical bar menu. Come try their fried pickles with a homemade king tenderloin that is sure to please. If your up for a challenge then take a shot at their monster 3lb BellyBobBeltBustingBurger - If you can eat their 3lb monster within one hour they'll place your picture on the wall of fame and give you half off your meal!  Hope to see everyone in February. Stay tuned for their Grand Opening Weekend to be announced soon.

     Amanda's Closet, 517 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 346-4663: Amanda Rogy, Owner.  Open Monday - Friday, 10am to 6pm and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Amanda's Closet is a consignment shop offering men, women & children's clothing, shoes, purses, accessories and home decor.

     Pekin Riding Club, PO Box 683, 11401 IL RT 29, Pekin, IL 61555-0683; (309) 477-2664; pekinridingclub@yahoo.com  www.pekinridingclub.com  Nicole Mauser-Storer, President.  The purpose of the Pekin Riding Club (PRC) is to promote interest in, enjoyment of, and further the education/knowledge of good horsemanship to the mutual advantage of its membership. PRC is a non-profit organization run by volunteers and elected board members.

     Bernard Riley, Pekin, IL, Retired Member

     Woiwode Painting Company, 2100 Alhambra Court, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 620-1382; Matt Woiwode, President. Application of interior and exterior paints and coatings, faux finishes, and custom textures. They also repair plaster and drywall. Woiwode Painting Company goes to great lengths to make sure every surface is prepared properly and they only apply the finest products on the market. There is a color consultant on staff to help you choose the right color for your project. Anything that can be painted, stained or textured - they can do it. Commercial or residential. They are a proud member of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.

     Glen Rittenhouse, Pekin, IL, Retired Member

     Harbor Light Hospice, 2000 West Pioneer Parkway, Suite 206; Peoria, IL 61615; (309) 689-9760; fax (309) 689-9764; www.harborlighthospice.com; Stacey Mutchler, Community Liaison; Hallie DeCapp, Patient Care Manager. Harbor Light Hospice is a philosophy of care, that assists patients, family, and friends, during the final stages of a terminal illness. Harbor Light Hospice promotes dignity and emphasizes quality of life for those who choose to die in familiar surroundings with those they love. Their hospice services can be provided at home, a skilled nursing facility or an assisted living center.

     Polk City Directories, 37001 Industrial Road, Livonia, MI 48150-1146;  (734) 542-6636; fax: 800-964-1648: Laura A. Barnett, Account Manager. laura.barnett@infousa.com Polk City Directories helped pioneer printed directories for local cities - a tradition that dates back to 1870. Polk City Directories features four databases. There are 220 million leads in the U.S. consumer database, 57 million homeowners, 13 million business leads and 11.5 million executive and professionals. Customers can access data via an address, phone number, company details, or neighbors using CD-ROMs, website and printed directories.

     Hopedale Medical Complex, 107 Tremont, PO Box 267, Hopedale, IL  61747:  (309) 449-3321  www.hopedalemc.com; Monique Weaver, Marketing Director; Mark Rossi, COO.  Hopedale Medical Foundation is a non-profit, charitable corporation committed to excellence in promoting good health and wellness. HMC services the healthcare needs of the sick and elderly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without discrimination and regardless of ability to pay.

     Firehouse Pizza, 3560 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554: (309) 346-9111; www.firehousepizza911.com  Stan Cohen, owner; Stephen White, Assistant Manager. Open Monday - Thursday 11:00am to 8:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 11:00am - 9:30pm; Sunday, 11:00am to 8:00pm.  Firehouse Pizza uses high quality, fresh ingredients. They feature 21 TVs, and a party room with two 50" TVs and seating for 44. Call now to reserve the room for your family or sporting event. They also offer gluten-free pizza.

     Beck's Convenience Store, 317 Derby Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 346-0515; Franklin K. Metcalf, Manager.  Beck's Convenience Store is in the middle of construction on a new building at their current location. When finished it will include a liquor store and convenience store. The hours will change when the new building is completed. Currently, the convenience store is open from 6am to 10pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; until 11pm on Friday and Saturday, from 8am to 8pm on Sunday and from 6am to 9pm on Monday.

     Grumpy Pete's Steakhouse, 1440 N. 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 477-8325 Denny Mullen, President; Shawn Beecham VP and co-owner; and Jay Hall, Secretary & co-owner. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 4pm to 9pm and Sunday from 11am to 8pm. Grumpy Pete's Steakhouse is a casual dining steakhouse featuring USDA Choice Steaks, Pasta and Seafood. They also have a full service bar and beer garden.