It's Your Business | Opening day nears for Curtis Orchard's 2024 season

Email business news to Jana Wiersema at jwiersema@news-gazette.com .

It’s almost time to ease on down the yellow brick road to Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch.

The Champaign business, located at 3902 S. Duncan Road, will open for its 45th season on July 20, said president and co-owner Randy Graham.

The orchard’s hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

“Opening day is usually pretty busy with a lot of people coming in for produce and peaches — but admittedly, mainly donuts,” Graham said with a chuckle. “... We’ve got a lot of loyal customers that vie to be the first one through the door when we open.”

When asked if any changes are in the works, Graham said that the orchard is putting in a new inflatable jumping pad to replace its old one.

That’s not the only addition to Curtis Orchard. Graham’s daughter, co-owner Rachel Coventry, is pregnant and has a July due date.

“I told them they needed to do their family planning a little bit better,” Graham joked. “But I can’t speak too much because I had two daughters in September, so I didn’t exactly follow my own advice.”

Local baseball player launches coffee business

Looking for a buzz before your morning workout?

Barista Bod, a new small business by Carson Lykins, will have a pop-up coffee station at the Forum Fitness Center in Rantoul from 6 to 10 a.m. every Friday morning in July.

Lykins, a 16-year-old student at Rantoul Township High School, became interested in coffee about a year and a half ago.

“I just started off by going to a coffee shop,” he said. “I really liked the environment, so I decided to get an espresso machine. I’m a person that’s determined and if I think of something, I want it, I find a way to try and get it soon. So I got an espresso machine, and I just fell in love with making coffee.”

He started making different drinks and got good feedback from other people about his handiwork. Over time, he moved on to roasting beans and developed his own blend of coffee, which he’s selling in 12-ounce bags as part of the Barista Bod business.

When asked what’s next, Lykins said that he’ll probably continue to host the pop-up coffee station at the fitness center and move to Saturday mornings as the school year starts. He also might add one evening during the week.

Despite being a baseball player and part of the Rantoul Rush travel team, Lykins said he always finds time to take care of his business, as it’s something he hopes to grow over time — possibly into a coffee truck and then, later on, an actual coffee shop.

“I just can’t wait for the future,” he said. “... I know I’m young, but it’s really something that I’d like to pursue.”

Community comes through for Baldarotta’s

Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage has surpassed its $35,000 fundraising goal on Kickstarter.

The restaurant launched the campaign in June to help fund the opening of a new brick-and-mortar location at 208 W. Griggs St. Community members had until Wednesday to pledge funds to the drive.

The campaign had raised over $36,000 as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday — a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that, as of Monday, it had only been at $20,385, the business shared on social media.

Co-owner Paris Baldarotta said in a previous interview that the move would not be possible without meeting their fundraising goal.

“If everything goes to plan, I would say early fall (for an opening),” she said.

The couple added that if they are able to move into the new location, they would likely keep “at least the sandwich side” of the Lincoln Square shop open.

Tex-Mex eatery soon to open

The Burrito Lab will open July 22, said owner Hugo Aceves. The restaurant is located at 209 E. University Ave., D, in Champaign.

Aceves said in a previous interview that his concept is “Chipotle meets street food.”

Local spa staying put

Everything You Spa, located at 807 W. Springfield Ave. in Champaign, has announced that after a couple of months of looking into a potential new location, it will stay in the same spot.

“Living Legacy Pilates has recently purchased the building where our spa is currently located, and they have expressed their desire for us to stay!” the business shared on social media.

The spa also announced plans to expand its offerings with more treatment rooms and added that Bodyworks Massage will have a satellite room in the building.

Everything You Spa had planned to relocate after Something You Salon, also located in the Springfield Avenue building, closed in late April.