Popular New Baden bakery expanding

The work spaces at Berkemann’s Baker’s Dozen in New Baden are getting bigger.

That’s because owner Paul Berkemann bought a fourth mixer for the popular bakery at 115 W. Hanover St.

Berkemann bought the new mixer in response to increased demand at the bakery.

“I need it to get the work done,” Berkemann said of the project. The 33-foot by 6-foot extension will allow room for the new mixer and give workers “more elbow room.”

Luckily for Berkemann — and his customers — the bakery has remained open ever since work began Aug. 1. Crews have been able to build the extension of the building without knocking down the existing wall. They’ll tear the old wall down after the new construction is complete, opening up the space.

Berkemann said if the weather cooperates he hopes the project will be completed by the middle of next month.

“I’m impressed so far by the progress. It’s going to turn out really nice,” he said.

New dollar store taking shape

The walls of what eventually will be the Belleville area’s newest Dollar General store are up.

Workers first began prepping the site at 1101 Centreville Ave. this spring. The site lies in unincorporated St. Clair County just outside the Belleville city limits.

It’s the second such Dollar General in that general area: Developer Bob Elkan and STL Equities also were responsible for the new Dollar General that went up along Eiler Road. That site also is in unincorporated St. Clair County near Belleville.

The Centreville Avenue project was to cost between up to $1.3 million and, once open, bring eight to 10 new jobs.

Cafe opens in Swansea

Its opening was a bit delayed, but patrons are now welcome at Lucky Rose Cafe and Lounge, located at 4019 N. Illinois St., Suite 600, in Swansea. It opened Aug. 13.

Fruit smoothies — with and without alcohol — are on the menu, as are handcrafted sandwiches and salads. Owner Michael Zimmerman says the wild berry and banana berry smoothies and slider sandwiches have been popular.

A separate room with video gaming terminals is coming soon.

It’s 21-and-over after 7 p.m., where drinkers can enjoy beer, wine and spirits.

Hours at Lucky Rose are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, but those hours will be extended once the video gaming terminals are installed. Call the cafe at 618-744-7500.

Track & field retailer breaks ground

What eventually will be a metro-east track & field equipment retailer’s new headquarters is under construction in Edwardsville.

First to the Finish, which currently is based in Carlinville and has an Edwardsville location at 6698 Center Grove Road in Edwardsville, is building a new, 16,000-square-foot retail center several hundred feet away near the intersection of Illinois 159 and Center Grove Road.

The site will become the business’s new headquarters.

A general manager at the Carlinville location said work started at the site this March and that the site should open by November 15.

Calling all entrepreneurs

Think you’ve got the next big idea?

The Metro-East Small Business Development Center is accepting applicants to enter its third annual Metro-East Startup Challenge. In the first round of the challenge, applicants provide an executive summary and answers to a questionnaire about their startup. Applicants invited to the second round of the contest submit full business plans to judges.

The challenge’s winner is awarded $10,000 and two runners-up each get $5,000. Additional information and application guidelines are available on the challenge’s web page.

This story was originally published August 21, 2016 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Popular New Baden bakery expanding."