At the Morris Herald News, our mission is to serve our communities and make them better places to live.
We’re not alone. Local businesses and our loyal readers play an important role in our communities.
In June we invited our readers to select their favorite businesses in the 2024 Best of Greater Grundy County readers’ choice awards. These are the best of the best according to you, our readers. We’re pleased to present this year’s winners, and we look forward to doing it all again next year.
BURGER
Best
Babe’s Tap & Grill
One of the best BBQ & Baker
The Hideout (American Legion)
CATERING
Nan’s Catering & Home Cooking
One of the best BBQ & Baker
AppleJax Creations
DESSERTS
Best
Morris Bakery
One of the best Laki Hawaiian Ice BBQ & Baker
FINE DINING Best
MORRIS COUNTRY CLUB
One of the best
Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Pesciolino Osteria
LIQUOR SERVICES (RETAIL) Best
Feeney Package Liquor
One of the best Westside Liquors
Montage Wine Bar & Spirits
LUNCH
Best
The Hideout (American Legion)
One of the best BBQ and Baker
Letty Mae’s Tea Room
MARGARITA
Best La Casa Michoacana
One of the best El Patron Mexican Kitchen The Hideout (American Legion)
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Best La Casa Michoacana
One of the best El Patron Mexican Kitchen Habanero Grill
PASTA
Best
Corleone’s Italian Restaurant
One of the best Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Pesciolino Osteria
FOOD&DRINK
PIZZA Best
The County Seat Pub & Pizzeria
One of the best Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Aurelio’s Pizza Morris
SPORTS BAR Best Carson Tap House
One of the best Cade’s Corner Pub Clayton’s Tap
WINGS
Best
The Hideout (American Legion)
One of the best Tully Monster Pub & Grill Buffalo Wild Wings
HEALTH&BEAUTY
CHIROPRACTOR
Best
Dr. Phil Wilkinson, Wilkinson Clinic of Chiropractic
One of the best Lardi Chiropractic Clinic, Ltd. Twin Oaks Chiropractic - Andrea Buckman, D.C.
DENTIST
Best Bell and King Dental Associates
One of the best Halkyard Family Dental Barth Dental Care, P.C.
EYE DOCTOR
Best
Blanco Kays Corgiat Eye Care, LLC
One of the best Ortiz Eye Associates J Micetich, OD & Associates Family Eye Care Center
HAIR SALONS & BARBER SHOPS
SENIOR
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
G.N.A.W. (Grundy Neighborhood Animal Welfare) was voted BEST Veterinarian
BBQ & Baker was voted BEST BBQ
Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc was voted BEST in Heating/Air Conditioning
Dandy Flooring was voted BEST Flooring Store
Influence Salon was voted BEST Hair Salon
Rusty Ridge Animal Center was voted
Matthew Seidel/Country Financial was voted BEST Insurance Agency
KN Nails & Spa was voted BEST Spas & Nails
HOUSE&HOME
FLOORING STORE
Best
Dandy Flooring
One of the best Hardwood Floors By Chad Shenberg Alpha Wolf Flooring
GARDENING / LANDSCAPING
Best
McTague Lawn Management
One of the best That Perennial Place Sunshine Garden Center
HEATING / A.C.
Best
Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc.
One of the best Cleek Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
R. L. Lyon Inc, Heating & A.C.
COMMUNITY GROWS HERE
On 13.5 acres adjacent to Morris Grade School, the YMCA, in partnership with Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, envisions a place where the community will come together to grow in spirit, mind, and body. FAMILY bonds will grow stronger. CHILDREN will grow in character and gain self-confidence. PEOPLE of all ages will grow healthier. OUR COMMUNITY WILL GROW HERE.
MORRIS COMMUNITY YMCA (815) 513-8080 | www.jolietymca.org
In partnership with
A PLACE WHERE YOU BELONG
OPENINGTO SERVETHE COMMUNITY IN2025
Located just west of Morris Grade School on DuPont Avenue, our new 60,000-square-foot YMCA will feature:
• An Aquatics Center Featuring an Eight-Lane Lap Pool
• A State-of-the-Art Wellness Center
• A Gymnasium
• Group Exercise Studios
• Multi-Purpose Rooms and Engaging Youth Play Spaces
• A Healthy Eating Kitchen
• Gathering and Meeting Space
• Outdoor Space for Summer Camps and Youth Sports WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME
To learn more about the new Morris Hospital YMCA, please scan the QR code or contact the Y today at (815) 513-8080.
Nan’s Catering and Home Cooking was voted the BEST Catering
Lori Bonarek Realty was voted BEST Real Estate Company
MacNab Foot and Ankle Center was voted BEST Podiatrist
Major School of Dance was voted BEST Dance Studio
Bob’s Advanced Auto & Tire was voted BEST Auto/Tire Services
Genuine Pool Care & Maintenance
La Casa Michoacana was voted BEST Margarita and BEST Mexican Restaurant
HOUSE&HOME
Bell and King Dental Associates was voted BEST Dentist
Carson Tap House was voted the BEST Sports Bar
True North was voted BEST Home Furnishings, BEST Clothing Boutique, BEST Gift Shop, BEST Resale Shop/Antiques
Sherwood Oaks Waffle Cafe & Restaurant was voted BEST Breakfast
David J. Brozovich, Grundy Bank was voted BEST Mortgage Broker
Dr. Phil Wilkinson was voted BEST Chiropractor
Feeney Package Liquor was voted BEST Liquor Services
The County Seat Pub & Pizzeria was voted BEST Pizza
Blanco Kays Corgiat Eye Care, LLC was voted BEST Eye Doctor
The Wharrie Law Firm was voted BEST Attorney
Lori Bonarek Realty was voted BEST Business to Business Service
Candlelight Home Healthcare, LLC was voted BEST Senior Care
One
NON-PROFIT / PHILANTHROPIC
Matt Seidel
Matt Seidel
Financial Representative 1509 Creek Dr Morris, IL 60450-6857
Matt Seidel
Financial Representative 1509 Creek Dr Morris, IL 60450-6857
Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home was voted BEST Funeral Services
Grundy Bank was voted BEST Bank/Financial Institution
McTague Lawn Equipment was voted BEST Gardening/Landscaping
J&M Auto was voted BEST Auto Body Services
Babe’s Tap & Grill was voted BEST Burger
Morris Bakery was voted BEST Desserts
Corleon’s Italian Restaurant was voted BEST Pasta
I&M Clean Up Coalition was voted BEST Non-Profit/Philanthropic Group
The Hideout (American Legion) was voted BEST Lunch and BEST Wings
Ultimate Performance Massage & Wellness was voted BEST Therapeutic Massage
Lori Bonarek Realty was voted BEST Real Estate Agent
How communities benefit when consumers shop local
Ideas about shopping are never set in stone, and the pandemic illustrated just how quickly consumer trends and opinions can change. Many individuals are now reevaluating how they spend their hard-earned money, particularly since inflation has affected just how far a dollar can be stretched. When consumers think about which stores to patronize, locally owned businesses may be the smartest option for a number of reasons — not the least of which is the way such enterprises benefit the communities they call home.
More money kept in the community
Shopping locally means that more money will stay in the community. According to recent research from Civic Economics, local eateries return nearly 79 percent of revenue to the community, compared to just over 30 percent for chain restaurants. Overall, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $73 remains in the community, verus roughly $43 when shopping at a non-locally owned business.
Get a personal touch
Local business owners typically are inclined to go the extra mile for their customers and are personally invested in the services and products they are selling. As a result, shopping locally tends to be a personalized experience. Furthermore, a local business owner may be more amenable to ordering products for specific clientele. Such personalized service is typically not accessible when shopping big box stores or other shops where owners are off-site.
Lines are short
Waiting in long lines for checkout or to pick up merchandise ordered online can drain consumers’ energy and contribute to stress. Local businesses tend to have short lines and small crowds, which can lead to a more pleasant shopping experience.
Generates tax revenue
Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, according to Rubicon, a digital marketplace for waste and recycling businesses. Taxes paid by
local small businesses go to support schools, parks, roads, and other programs that benefit the community as well.
Support nonprofits
Local businesses often support good work in the community, such as nonprofit groups. These can include schools and sports teams, among other groups. According to Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma, studies indicate nonprofits “receive 250 percent more support from small businesses than larger ones.”
Support other local businesses
Local business support other local businesses by buying and selling among each other. A local, independently owned restaurant may source its ingredients from local farms, which means visitors to such eateries are supporting multiple local businesses each time they dine out.
Small businesses are a boon to the economy, particularly local economies. These enterprises help their communities in a multitude of ways.
