A new restoration project aims to connect Powderhorn Lake to Wolf Lake that straddles the border of Chicago and Hammond.
The project is expected to restore more than 100 acres of wetlands, reestablish marsh habitat, reduce flooding and bring back more birds to the Southeast side of Chicago just across the state line.
“In Chicago and in the suburbs, the Forest Preserves protects native lands and provides residents with opportunities to enjoy the natural world. I’m proud that this investment on the Southeast Side will forward both these aspects of our mission," Cook County Board and Forest Preserves of Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle said. "I’m grateful to our partners who share our commitment to the Calumet Region and restoring these habitats.”
Audubon Great Lakes, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the Great Lakes Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration kicked off the project with a groundbreaking Saturday.
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The hope is to reconnect Wolf Lake to its southern neighbor Powderhorn Lake, a 50-acre freshwater lake that's home to 100 bird species, 250 plant species and 2,500 insects. It's surrounded by dune-and-swale topography that is common in the Calumet Region but is globally rare.
“Powderhorn Lake and Nature Preserve is a special place. For many years, we’ve discussed how to bring back critical wetlands, knowing the huge impact that will have for local wildlife. Today is a big step in reaching that goal. I’m excited that when I visit here next year, I’ll see these historic habitats begin to return,” Forest Preserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall said.
Powderhorn Lake has suffered from unnaturally high water levels for more than a decade. A century of urban and industrial development altered the natural conditions to a degree that it's destroyed animal habitats, eliminated native plant species and created a flooding risk.
The project will install a water control structure at the north end of the lake. It will adjust the water level to drain water into the northern marsh and Wolf Lake, which flows through the Indian Creek path to the Calumet River into Lake Michigan.
The water level must be just right for a marsh to thrive. Restoration will boost populations of fish like the Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Grass Pickerel, while the habitat will support birds like the Least Bittern, Common Gallinule and Pied-billed Grebe.
“At Audubon, we know what is good for birds is good for people. Recent scientific studies of bird populations have sounded the alarm. We know North America has lost more than a quarter of its bird population in the last 50 years,” said Michelle Parker, vice president and executive director of Audubon Great Lakes. “We are working to ensure that the waters and lands of this iconic ecosystem remain healthy for the communities of birds and people and thankfully we know what to do and have the amazing community and agency partners in place to reverse this trend of wildlife declines and at the same time alleviate some of the flooding and issues facing the South Side communities.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: SoHo Sweets Creamery, Balkan grocer, Filipino restaurant, dental office and furniture store open; Pepe's closes
Open
Soho isn't just a trendy neighborhood in New York City or London anymore.
SoHo Sweets Creamery and Cafe is now serving scoops of ice cream in downtown South Holland.
The ice cream shop and cafe moved into a historic home at 16129 South Park Avenue. It serves Sherman's ice cream, breakfast, lunch and Smalltown Coffee from Crown Point.
It offers takeout and dine-in in a modern but quaint ambiance.
SoHo Sweets Creamery and Cafe sells ice cream by the scoop, ice cream sandwiches, shakes, hot fudge sundaes and root beer floats. The coffee menu includes drip coffee, cold brew, espresso, mocha, latte and Americana.
Food offerings are light, such as a breakfast burrito, smoked gouda and egg on a house-made biscuit, Cajun biscuits and gravy, a parfait, an egg and cheddar croissant and brown sugar bourbon oatmeal.
SoHo Sweets is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Open
A new Balkan grocer is offering imported ethnic fare in Northwest Indiana.
Aroma Euro Market opened in Lincoln Ridge Plaza on U.S. 30, about a mile east of U.S. 41. The small market, which is locally owned and operated by the Krajisnik family, leased 2,100 square feet at 212 W. Lincoln Highway.
It aspires to be Northwest Indiana’s go-to spot for all things Balkan.
“We are very happy to open in this highly trafficked plaza. Aroma is a perfect fit for the area," said Myles Rapchack with Latitude Commercial, which represented Aroma Euro Market in the deal. "I have no doubt they will be extremely successful as their passion for the business showed throughout the entire process. They are going to be a great addition to Schererville and the surrounding communities.”
The store has an extensive deli selling a wide variety of sausages, bacon and other cured meats. It sells a variety of imported groceries from Eastern Europe, including mineral water, juices, sauces, seasonings, soup stocks, pasta, sweets and breakfast cereals. It also carries wine, coffee, tea, pickled fish, vegetables and cooking pans.
Aroma Euro Market is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Coming soon
Hammond's Couch Potato Furniture is now permanently inert, but it will soon be replaced by a new furniture store.
Icon Home Furniture plans to open in the former Couch Potato Furniture space at 7111 Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond.
The retailer signed a long-term lease for the 11,500-square-foot storefront, which has been used as a furniture store since it was built in 1956. Icon Home Furniture will sell couches, dinner tables, dressers, beds and other furniture to the local neighborhood market.
“With its large showroom and open space design, this is an ideal location for a furniture store," said Antony Miocic of Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial, which brokered the transaction. "Hammond residents may remember this building as being Leonard’s Furniture for many years. I hope Icon Home Furniture stays with the community as long as Leonard’s did."
Open
Tropical Islands Cuisine is bringing "food and traditions closer to home" in Merrillville.
The restaurant at 40 W. 80th Place in Merrillville specializes in authentic Filipino-Asian cuisine like boodle sa biloa, crispy seafood kare-kare, lechon kawali, chicken curry, tropical chicken inasal, pinoy barbecue, pritong isda, pork adobo, menudo, eggrolls, noodles and jasmine rice. It offers an array of seafood, pork and pinoy dishes, as well as tropical house specials. One can get squid grilled in banana leaves, Filipino sweet-style spaghetti with Siopao pork asado or pork asado in steamed buns.
Tropical Islands Cuisine also offers smoothies, bubble teas, desserts and tropical fusion juices. It has a bar with karaoke and an Asian grocery store.
The restaurant has a buffet on Sundays and delivers free within five-miles with a minimum order of $50, so long as customers tip the delivery driver.
For more information, call 219-262-7890, email tropicalislandsllc@gmail.com or find the business on Facebook.
Open
Smiles on Randolph opened "Indiana's state-of-the-art dental med spa" on U.S. 30 in unincorporated Crown Point, just east of the Hobart city limit.
Dr. Chanbo Sim is the head of the 10,000-square-foot two-story facility at 8000 E. Lincoln Hwy. The newly constructed building features 25 dental rooms, a large conference room and private patient reception areas with the aim of providing an upscale experience.
Smiles on Randolph offers a wide array of dental services, including general dentistry, emergency surgery, restorative dentistry, cosmetic procedures and orthodontics. It also provides cosmetic services like botox fillers, coolsculpting and cold sore laster treatment.
The dental office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, visit smilesonrandolph.com or call 219-356-8000.
Relocating
NWI Eye & Laser Center is relocating to a new location at 851 Eastport Centre Drive in Valparaiso.
Chester Architectural & Construction Services will soon break ground on a new building for the eye care center.
NWI Eye & Laser Center offers an array of eye care services, including eye exams, eyeglasses, eye surgery, eye disease treatment and LASIK corrective procedures.
For more information, call 219-464-8223 or visit www.nwindianaeyeandlaser.com.
Reopen
After more than a month's hiatus to reassess because of the labor shortage, The Wurst is again serving artisan meats in downtown Griffith.
The acclaimed whole animal butcher, which got a glowing profile by a Chicago Reader food critic, reopened 130 N. Broad St.
It's debuting new international sausages made with locally sourced meat, including South African Boerewors, Linguica, Fwereh, Jamaican Goat Curry, Welsh Lamb Sausage, Morcilla and Navajo Blood Sausage. It also continues to carry sausage favorites like Polish, Italian, Loukaniko, Kolbasz, Andouille, Chorizo, Cajun Boudin, Cevapi, Longanisa and Merguez.
There's more on the way and we didn't forget Oktoberfest is right around the corner.
Open
Amici's Grill and Pizzeria opened its second location at 1409 Lincolnway in Valparaiso.
The popular Italian restaurant on Ridge Road in Highland established its second location near the Valparaiso University campus. The restaurant serves pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches and its famous garlic knots.
The Valparaiso location also have gyros plates, burgers, Greek fries, spicy baked feta, fried provolone and a Tzatziki plate.
For more information, visit www.amicigrill.com or call 219-286-6293.
Closed
Pepe's has closed in Calumet City.
The longstanding regional Tex-Mex chain long had an eatery at 943 River Oaks Drive near the River Oaks Center. The family-friendly restaurant, which has multiple locations across Northwest Indiana and Chicago, is known for its tacos, Chihuahua cheese-stuffed tacos, burritos, enchiladas and margaritas, as well as daily food and drink specials it runs throughout the weeks.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Region native Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times of Northwest Indiana since 2013.
