Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 34F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..
Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 12F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Updated: January 12, 2025 @ 10:06 am
Owners (from left) Steve McQueen, Larry Williams, Barbara Levine and Joy Davis at Needful Things, a new vintage shop, at the old train station in downtown Champaign. The shop is currently accessed through Exile on Main, but when expansion is done, it will have its own entrance off of Chestnut Street.
Co-owners Steve McQueen, left, and Larry Williams talk about the expansion of Needful Things into the northernmost space in the old station building in Champaign on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The shop is currently accessed through Exile on Main, but when their expansion is done, it will have its own entrance off of Chestnut Street.
Co-owner Steve McQueen talks about the expansion of Needful Things into the northernmost space in the old station building in Champaign on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The shop is currently accessed through Exile on Main, but when their expansion is done, it will have its own entrance off of Chestnut Street.
The south side of the new U-Haul facility on University between Third and Fourth streets in Champaign, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
The north side of the new U-Haul facility on University between Third and Fourth streets in Champaign, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
The north side of the new U-Haul facility on University between Third and Fourth streets in Champaign, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
H Mart in Urbana on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
Owners (from left) Steve McQueen, Larry Williams, Barbara Levine and Joy Davis at Needful Things, a new vintage shop, at the old train station in downtown Champaign. The shop is currently accessed through Exile on Main, but when expansion is done, it will have its own entrance off of Chestnut Street.
Co-owners Steve McQueen, left, and Larry Williams talk about the expansion of Needful Things into the northernmost space in the old station building in Champaign on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The shop is currently accessed through Exile on Main, but when their expansion is done, it will have its own entrance off of Chestnut Street.
Co-owner Steve McQueen talks about the expansion of Needful Things into the northernmost space in the old station building in Champaign on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The shop is currently accessed through Exile on Main, but when their expansion is done, it will have its own entrance off of Chestnut Street.
The north side of the new U-Haul facility on University between Third and Fourth streets in Champaign, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
The north side of the new U-Haul facility on University between Third and Fourth streets in Champaign, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
Email business news to Jana Wiersema at jwiersema@news-gazette.com.
Sign up for our daily newsletter here
A new business selling vintage goods has opened in a particularly fitting location: a historic train station in downtown Champaign.
Needful Things Warehouse Gallery is located inside The Station at 100 N. Chestnut St. Its temporary entrance is through the Exile on Main Street record store.
Co-owners Joy Davis, Barbara Levine, Larry Williams and Steve McQueen opened the shop in November, touting it as the place to find both vintage and modern items, including furniture, decor, art, gifts, clothing, accessories and collectibles.
“The four of us, having been friends for decades, have a shared sense of community and bringing people together,” the group told The News-Gazette. “We also have a shared passion for vintage items and the history behind them. As soon as we entered the train station, we realized that our vintage offerings, soon to be more readily available inside an historical building, would help preserve local history and heritage, allowing customers to connect with the past.”
Additionally, the owners of Needful Things do their best to source goods locally, which enables them to provide more detail to customers about the history behind these items. They also feature items made by local artisans, including custom furniture.
The shop currently occupies the space that formerly housed Dandelion. However, they are working into expand into The Station’s north end, which would be combined with their current home, and hope to have the renovations finished by April 1. They would then plan to hold a soft opening within a week of completion.
In the meantime, the four owners are enjoying the ride.
“We have been friends for decades and are having a great time with this venture,” they said. “People enter our store as strangers and leave as new friends. We just love it!”
H Mart in Urbana on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
Asian supermarket and food hall plans grand opening
H Mart has announced that its new, 32,175-square-foot location at 220 N. Broadway Ave. in Urbana will open Thursday morning.
According to the city of Urbana, there will be a ribbon cutting at 9:50 a.m., and the store will officially open to the public at 10 a.m. Other activities include a traditional Korean dance performance at 10 a.m., followed by a lion dance at 10:10 a.m.
City officials added that the schedule is subject to change as needed.
“This major investment will bring added vitality to downtown Urbana along with an exciting new supermarket and food hall,” said Mayor Diane Marlin. “We appreciate H Mart’s renovation and re-use of an existing store, their commitment to be an active part of the community, and the new job opportunities this store will bring. Welcome to Urbana, H Mart!”
The store, which is located in the building that once housed Save A Lot, will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, H-Mart officials said.
The south side of the new U-Haul facility on University between Third and Fourth streets in Champaign, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
U-Haul hopes to open new facility soon
U-Haul’s new five-story building at 306 E. University Ave. is not yet open for business. However, company officials said the site could be up and running in time to benefit from the wave of returning students.
U-Haul Company of Illinois President Kevin Barringer said that, if all goes well, they hope to open the facility sometime in mid-January.
He said in a previous interview that the location will offer U-Haul Truck Share 24/7, climate-controlled self-storage and the U-Box mobile storage program.
The University of Illinois’ spring semester begins on Jan. 21.
Experience C-U launches “CU Mocktail Trail”
Need some help making it through Dry January? Experience Champaign-Urbana has launched an experience pass known as the “CU Mocktail Trail.”
The trail includes over 20 bars and restaurants with mocktails in the greater Champaign-Urbana area. Pass users earn points each time they check in at one of the stops, and those who visit five or more stops in three months are eligible to win a $50 gift card to one of the businesses featured on the trail.
Individuals can go to experiencecu.org/experience-passes to sign up for free.
Every dog has its day — eventually
Black Dog Smoke and Ale House posted at blackdogurbana.com that while its Urbana location at 201 N. Broadway Ave. did not manage to reopen in fall 2024, there is “a good chance” it will do so in winter 2025.
“You may see opening dates on review sites, those are not right,” the business wrote. “We have not set an official opening date. It will be announced here before it is posted anywhere else.”
The restaurant has been closed for nearly five years, according to a previous interview with owner Michael Cochran.
“
The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print.
Pick the brain of veteran News-Gazette columnist Tom Kacich and veteran WDWS/WHMS radio personality Kathy Reiser.
Have a question for 25-year Vermilion County beat writer Jennifer Bailey? Submit them here and she’ll respond each Thursday.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
