Brothers Rafael and David Fuentes have purchased the former Real Hacienda restaurant at 912 W. Bloomington Road, C, and plan to open a new restaurant there in May.

The brothers, both of whom hail from Guadalajara, Mexico, have named the restaurant Guadalajara, and it will feature Mexican food.

The Fuenteses operate two restaurants by the same name in Decatur and another in Macomb.

"Our special is lunch in less than five minutes and dinner in less than 10," David Fuentes said.

They plan to invest about $200,000 on renovations for the Champaign restaurant, including a new bar, new kitchen, flooring and booths. They're aiming for a May 3 opening.

Before the building held Real Hacienda, it was a Red Lobster.

Circles status

Danelle Jameson, owner of Circles, the downtown Champaign women's boutique, sent a note to customers earlier this month quashing any rumors that the store might be closing.

Instead she's been considering a move to a new location in the area. But nothing definite is planned, she said last week.

In the meantime, Jameson is planning for a spring sidewalk sale on Friday and Saturday.

The boutique opened in 1984 on Chester Street and has been at 107 N. Walnut St. for 19 years.

One of the building's new owners, Peter Schmidt, said he does not know yet what the renovation plans are for the building. He said Circles is welcome to stay in the building.

Chocolates

Karen McGinnis of Danville has started a new home-based business focused on selling chocolates.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries, a division of Mars, features products available in catalogs and with in-home demonstrations and sampling. The concept is similar to Pampered Chef or Tupperware. McGinnis hosts parties at her home and demonstrates, for example, how to make a chocolate martini, chocolate salad dressing and other treats.

McGinnis, recently retired from Quaker Oats, is a self-professed chocolate fanatic. She had never been to a party or seen a catalog for Dove Chocolate Discoveries, but wanted to get started in the business "because I just love Dove chocolates," she said.

She began hosting parties in March.

Products for sale include candy-making supplies, and mixes for treats like brownies and snacks such as chocolate-covered almonds.

McGinnis can be reached at 597-1254 or www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/karenmcginnis

Freebies

Ten Thousand Villages in downtown Champaign will celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday by taking 10 percent off your purchase if you bring your own bag. If you don't already have your totes, selected reusable totes will be for sale at 25 percent off.

Shoppers will also be given a wildflower seed packet, while supplies last, with their purchase.

The store, at 105 N. Walnut St., will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Earth Day.

Also on Wednesday, O'Charley's Restaurant, 730 W. Town Center Blvd., C, is giving out free strawberry lemonade.

The drink, made of freshly squeezed lemon, sliced strawberries and strawberry puree, usually sells for $3.49.

The free drink is a shout-out to administrative professionals. But you don't need to hold that job title to try one of the free drinks.

The catch is the strawberry lemonade is for dine-in guests only; to-go orders are not included. If you can't go to the restaurant that day, the restaurant is offering a coupon good for the drink any day during Administrative Professionals Week, which is Monday through Friday.

Stadium sale

Gameday Spirit and the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will hold their annual spring stadium clearance sale on Saturday in the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium.

Items for sale include T-shirts, jackets, hats and other athletic apparel. The sale starts at 9 a.m. and will run until they've sold out of items.

Wish lists

Last week I asked readers for their ideas on what businesses they would like to see set up shop in Champaign-Urbana.

Apparently there are a lot of Trader Joe's fans out there. The store was one of the more popular places suggested to open in the area. In addition to Trader Joe's, several folks would love it if Whole Foods opened a store here.

However, another reader pointed out that although the area does not have a Trader Joe's, we do have stores like Mirabelle bakery, Art Mart, Strawberry Fields, Corkscrew and Sun Singer, which may carry items that Trader Joe's does.

Shoppers are still mourning the loss of Pages for All Ages bookstore in Savoy. Suggestions for the space ranged from a half-price bookstore to a Barnes and Noble.

Savoy residents asked for a home improvement store in their town, plus a Savoy Garden or Taffies-type restaurant and a JBJ-type store.

On the list of most-wanted chains to come to C-U: Super Target, Costco, DSW shoe store, Marshalls, California Pizza Kitchen, P.F. Chang's and Buca Di Beppo and Cici's Pizza.

Another reader wishes for a premium ice cream store such as Cold Stone Creamery in southeast Urbana or in downtown Champaign, as well as more restaurants (in addition to Milo's, Monical's and Subway) in or near the retail area near Meijer at Philo and Windsor roads in Urbana.

And, another reader asked, how about a Z Gallerie for home furnishings?

Christine des Garennes can be reached by phone at 351-5388 or 800-252-3346; by e-mail at cgarenne<@>news-gazette.com; or by regular mail at The News-Gazette, c/o It's Your Business column, P.O. Box 677, Champaign, IL 61824-0677.