PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Area has four businesses that are winners of an annual state award.
The businesses are winners of the “Illinois Made” award — celebrating locally-made products and locally-owned small businesses throughout the state. The Peoria area had more winners than any other region of the state.
“The resiliency that I continue to see from our restaurant owners and small business owners, particularly in the most devastating time our industry has really seen through the pandemic, the resiliency, the dedication, the persistence through all of this, is incredibly inspiring,” said JD Dalfanso, CEO, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, during a ceremony marking the winners Thursday.
The Peoria-area winners are Trefzger’s Bakery, The Nut House, Riley’s Vegan Sweets and Eats, and Mackinaw Valley Vineyards. All are enjoying recovery from the early days of the pandemic.
“2020, as we all know, was no fun for anybody,” said Diane Hahn, owner, Mackinaw Valley Vineyards. “(I) a few times wondered, ‘Hmmm, will this turn around?’ I think it finally did. This year, I think, most small businesses that are still standing, everybody’s having a good year.”
Despite having to close “The Nut House” earlier this year, owner Jane Scott still operates “Jane’s Sweet Addictions” at Northwoods Mall,” and still sells Nut House treats there, along with online sales. Scott was still recognized for her work.
“Keep that fire burning,” Scott said. “I do it for the people of Peoria. It means a lot to me to keep it up there. I’m going to do my best, and we’re going to keep bringing you great products.”
Riley Greenwood originally started her business — Riley’s Vegan Sweets & Eats — without a phone, and without a website or social media, and across from the Peoria County Courthouse. Now, as she’s grown, she has a phone and Facebook page, and is in Sheridan Village.
“Often, when people hear that I own a vegan company, they ask me, ‘So, how long have you been vegan?’ But, it’s not really about how long I’ve been vegan as to why I have my company name,” said Greenwood. “Veganism actually chose me. I did not choose veganism.”
It wasn’t the first time things were difficult for Trefzger’s Bakery in their long history, but one of the owners says recovery has gone nicely.
“We have worked through some hard times, especially two years ago. We lost a lot of money, but we managed to get through the pandemic, and we’re as busy as strong as we ever were — if not even busier now,” said Jeff Huebner, co-owner, Trefzger’s.
Huebner says, like other businesses, the only problem is finding people who want to work. He says he’s glad this is what he considers to be a legitimate award, and not one he calls an “advertising gimmick.”
