GODFREY, Ill. – The RiverBend Growth Association welcomed several new members to its organization in recent weeks. They include Honke Properties, Jest Murder Mystery Co., Quick Bite, D & R Machine Company, The Ruby Wren with State Street Soap Company LLC, Mo’z Sweet Treats and The Mirage Salon + Barbershop.
Honke Properties is a family-owned and operated real estate business in Alton, Ill. In operation for over 30 years, they provide office, retail and commercial space leasing throughout Madison County and surrounding areas.
Offering full-service office suites and commercial spaces throughout the Greater Alton area, Honke Properties’ real estate agents work personally with clients to find them the ideal setting for their business. Custom office design and build-out services are also available. Sites offer flexible lease options, off-street parking, janitorial service, 24-hour access and maintenance, and utilities are included. A 24-hour answering service is also available.
Located at 307 Henry Street in Alton, visit honkeproperties.net online to learn more, or call (618) 462-3372.
Jest Murder Mystery Co. was founded in St Louis in 1999 by actor, writer and director Randy Manning. Finding success with his previous murder mystery shows, Manning believed that he could produce a better show. He has combined professional actors with funnier writing and more participation to create murder mystery parties that are all about making sure the audience has a great time.
Professional entertainers from across the United States from cities including St. Louis, Memphis, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Des Moines, Minneapolis, and more, are now a vital part of the show production. Jest has performed at thousands of public venues, company parties, holiday parties, birthdays, wedding receptions, and at a host of other events across the United States.
The shows are performed at the customer’s chosen location, in between courses of a meal or buffet. Jest’s professional entertainers pull the guests into the show as part of a unique and fun interactive experience.
For Jest Murder Mystery Co., joining the RBGA will allow them to become a more active part of the community. “We’ve had an office in the area for several years now but have not really gotten involved or made many local relationships. We’d like to change that,” noted Jest’s company spokesperson. “We are looking forward to meeting and working with other local businesses in order to increase awareness of our business and contribute to the betterment of the Riverbend community.”
Their office is located at 705 Belle Street in Alton. For more information, visit online at www.jestmurderymystery.com or call 888-234-9984.
Quick Bite got its start in 2017 as a hot dog cart owned and operated in St. Louis by founder Valerie Davis.
“That same year, I got two ice cream trucks and started Quick Bite Frozen Treats as well,” Davis said. “I moved to Alton in 2018 and continued doing my ice cream trucks seasonally. In 2021, I was able to move Quick Bite into a brick-and-mortar on Delmar Street. I was there for four months before moving to my current location at 1626 Main Street in Alton.”
“Being a business owner has been challenging and rewarding at the same time,” Davis added. “It takes time, planning and patience. I’m planning soon to make Quick Bite a dine-in restaurant. I’ve met some wonderful people here in Alton who have made me feel welcome since the start. It is now my home.”
Davis also said that Quick Bite was joining the RiverBend Growth Association to have more knowledge of what’s going on in the community as well as to participate in any way she can.
For more information about Quick Bite and its offerings, find the company on Facebook at quickbitellc or call (618) 433-9555.
D & R Machine Company is celebrating its 25th year of business in 2022. The company was founded by David and René Gotter in 1997 in a 900-square-foot space and specializing in repairing and rebuilding machines for customers. Its full-service machining repair division, Alton Machine Works, was established in 2003 in a 30,000-square-foot facility located within the Alton Steel Business Park.
The company had expanded greatly in the emerging market and relocated to its two new facilities at 4311 Alby Street in Alton totaling over 75,000 square feet.
D & R Machine Company has grown to become a leading provider of technical expertise in steel mill services, CNC machining, manual machining, repairing, rebuilding, fabrications, welding, engineering and design. The company employs over 35 workers.
As a part of its milestone celebration this year, the company has also announced several investments to support recent growth, including expansion in Arkansas. The Arkansas location will add an additional 24,000 square feet of space with four bridge cranes for a combined lifting capacity of 170 tons to meet customers’ needs.
Shane Hobbs, D & R’s CFO, HR, Quality Assurance further noted, “We anticipate that our membership in the RBGA will benefit our company and the manufacturing industry as a whole, for example, with workplace development programs.”
For more information about D & R Machine Company, visit online at dandrmachineco.com or call (618) 465-5611.
The Ruby Wren with State Street Soap Company, LLC, is a family-owned and operated unique boutique store located at 5761 Godfrey Road, in Godfrey’s Monticello Plaza across from Lewis and Clark Community College.
Offering shoppers an eclectic assortment of gift and merchandise options in its 4,000-square-foot store space, the company has joined the RBGA so that they can meet and get to know other area business owners.
“Owning a small business can be isolating. We hope to lessen that isolation and meet other businesses to network and learn from each other,” the owners noted. “We are hoping to gain more community and network with others who are invested in growing our businesses and the local economy. We are excited to meet with others who are committed to growing our community networks and celebrate each other’s hard work, determination, and achievements.”
To learn more about The Ruby Wren with State Street Soap Company, LLC, look for The Ruby Wren Eclectic Boutique on Facebook or call (618) 433-9449.
Mo’z Sweet Treats offers a variety of homemade frozen treats and fresh fruit lemonades from its home base at 315 Belle Street in Alton.
Owner and operator Dorothy McCoy said, “Mo’z Sweet Treats emerged from an individual who loved to create homemade treats for friends and family without being limited to a bricks-and-mortar.” The company operates from its unique base as a non-motorized pedal tricycle.
“I joined the RiverBend Growth Association to network with other business professionals,” McCoy added. “What I hope to gain for my business by joining is a solid list of business professionals that I can network with to grow my business.”
For more information about Mo’z Sweet Treats, look for the business on Facebook at MozSweetTreats or call (704) 421-3080.
The Mirage Salon + Barbershop has joined the RBGA to network with other local businesses and its own client base as well. “It’s a great way for us to meet and learn from other businesses about marketing and see how they grow their own clientele,” noted Owner Andrea Guthrie.
“By joining, we hope to establish ourselves as another great business in the Riverbend area,” Guthrie added. “We want to be able to give back to the community and the events hosted by the RBGA give us that opportunity.”
As a one-stop shop for anyone needing their hair needs to be met, The Mirage Salon + Barbershop is dedicated to servicing families and anyone who needs a hair “pick-me-up.” Trained in barbering with 11-plus years of experience doing men’s hair, they also offer a full array of salon services including formal hair, color, styles, lash extensions, and waxing.
They offer both appointment and walk-in options from their location at 222 Herbert Street in Alton in order to best meet their customers’ needs and accommodate the many different schedules that customers have.
For more information about The Mirage Salon + Barbershop, call (618) 580-8333.
The RiverBend Growth Association is the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organization for the 11 communities known as the Riverbend. For more information about the Growth Association, visit growthassociation.com online or call (618) 467-2280.