"2003" Golden Arrow Awards & "2003" Annual Meeting was a Success

Richard Marker Associates, Inc. was established in 1972 as an architectural and building firm in Downers Grove, IL. They evolved into a development firm, in the mid 1970's. This family owned and operated business, currently has offices in both Yorkville, and Naperville. Today we recognize the project "Heartland Center", which will see a number of distinctive office, service, and retail stores, as the entire project is quite diverse. The first phase of the Heartland Center includes five office buildings, each 9,000 to 10,000 square feet in size. It will be home to Chicago Title's expanded Yorkville office, Yorkville Eye Professionals, as well as various other professional businesses. Heartland Center will additionally include 35,000 square feet of retail space along Route 34 at McHugh Road, and will also be the home to a new Oak Brook Bank Branch at the hard corner. This commercial project, which is directly north of the Marker's residential subdivisions Heartland and Heartland Circle, is an overall unique one-of-a-kind development. Accepting the Golden Arrow Award for New Development for Richard Marker Associates, Inc. is developer Clayton Marker.

Oakwood Building & Land Corp has been involved in both commercial and residential real estate ventures in Yorkville since 1996. This locally owned and family operated corporation is committed to quality construction with a strong focus on design and integrity. The commercial project that Oakwood is being recognized for today is 8.9 acres in size and is located at Route 47 and Beaver Street at the entrance to the Fox Industrial Business Park. This unique parcel incorporates zoning that will allow both retail and light manufacturing to co exist. Currently the project consists of Narvick Brothers Lumber Co., Inc, and Steven's Silk Screening & Embroidery, Inc. and will eventually include two to three future commercial spaces designed to enhance and compliment the overall project. Accepting the Golden Arrow Award for New Development for Oakwood Building and Land Corp is developer Mike Burks.

Old Second National Bank - Yorkville was founded in 1871 and is the largest provider of trust services of any independently owned bank in the western suburbs. Old Second is an innovative, sophisticated bank that still believes in the importance of an old-fashioned, sit-down meeting. The new Countryside Branch Building of Old Second National Bank - Yorkville is over 13,000 square feet in size, which is more than 10 times larger than the original Countryside Branch, built in the late 1980's. The Bank's real estate department will moving into the new building, and will be joined by an expanded personal banking, and teller staff. Old Second National Bank - Yorkville is committed to satisfying the diverse financial needs of their customers, and views this new facility as an opportunity to provide responsive, knowledgeable and dependable service to those customers. Accepting the Golden Arrows Award for Business Expansion for Old Second National Bank - Yorkville is CEO and Chairman of the Board, Jim Liggett.

Steven's Silk Screening & Embroidery, Inc. originally opened in Yorkville in 1974 in an 800 square foot space in Countryside Center. Their first business expansion took place in 1984, when the company moved into a larger 2,200 square foot space in Countryside, which has been their home since that time. With the addition of new products and an expanded tuxedo rental operation, Steven's found that they outgrew this location, and began the search for a facility to accommodate their growing needs. Steven's new 4,400 square foot home is being built by Yorkville's own Willam-Groesch General Contractors and is located on Route 47 at the entrance of the Fox Industrial Park. The facility will allow this company to double their silk-screening production, and add an additional three custom embroidery machines. The new showroom will be 1,400 square feet in size, and will include a full display of all lines of tuxedos. Steven's also plans on adding two staff members to their workforce. Accepting the Golden Arrow Award for Business Expansion for Steven's Silk Screening & Embroidery, Inc. is owner, Steve Heubel.

Carriage I Gifts has experienced an incredibly successful past year, for numerous reasons. Not only did they relocate their business to 910 North Bridge Street in Yorkville on September 25, 2002, they were also able to expand their commodities to include more lines of merchandise and gourmet food, due to that relocation and expansion. Carriage I Gifts current space is 1,350 square feet in size, which is more than double the size of their original 600 square foot home. We are recognizing Carriage I Gifts today for both business expansion and redevelopment. The improvements completed by the Collins Family, to the building at 910 Bridge Street, are certainly most notable. The building had sat vacant for an extended time, and had begun to deteriorate. The redevelopment of the building adds a distinctive example to Route 47's growing commercial opportunities. The building is also the home to Attorney Joseph Fahey's law practice. During this year, Carriage I Gifts has also increased their staff from three employees to a total of seven employees. With this increase in staff, they have also been able to offer more personalized customer service. Accepting the Golden Arrow Award for Business Expansion & Redevelopment for Carriage I Gifts is owner, Caryn Collins.

Duy's Shoes & Sportswear has been in business since 1954 when Ralph Duy purchased Sid's Shoe Store in Sandwich, IL. As a young boy, Todd Duy worked in the store helping his father sell quality shoes. After returning from college, Todd moved to back to the area and continued working with his dad. In 1979 Todd and his wife Karla purchased the store from his dad. Shortly thereafter they added sportswear and changed the name of the store to Duy's Shoes & Sportswear. Today we are recognizing Duy's Shoes & Sportswear for a significant redevelopment project in Yorkville. In just three short months, the building at 135 Veterans Parkway had been totally gutted, had a new facade, new landscaping and signage completed. Duy's opened their 2,600 square foot quality shoe store in Yorkville in November of 2002. The building is also the home to "Up Country" a 1,000 square foot gift and antique store. Duy's Shoes and Sportswear has truly experienced a successful redevelopment project in Yorkville, and is currently looking to add staff to their Yorkville location. Accepting the Golden Arrow Award for Redevelopment for Duy's Shoes & Sportswear is owner, Todd Duy.