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Why We Work in Barrington

Starr Kondos is no novice — the owner of Starr Couture has been in the retail business for 37 years and decided that Barrington was the perfect place to open her store. She says "I have always liked the atmosphere in Barrington; it is warm, quaint and intimate." Catering to women sizes 2 to 20, the store is located on Main Street and can really be considered a "one-stop-shop" for women who are looking for particularly stylish clothing items.

The elegant building features exclusive merchandise displayed in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Kondos buys her clothing from Europe, where she travels each year to shop for the store. Purchasing items from designers in Paris and Milan to bring back to her Barrington location ensures that her merchandise will be truly timeless and appealing to discriminating buyers.

Kondos says that her goal is to "take care of the customer from head to toe," and points out that although her items are often one-of-a-kind, there are a variety of price points available for customers to choose from. Some clothing choices that the store offers include sportswear, evening and career attire, shoes and accessories — but there is more to choose from and Kondos is always adding new things.

She says that it is a combination of factors that has made her business the success it is. "We have exclusive merchandise and wonderful service, but we are also very relationship-driven," Kondos stresses. "We want the customer to know that we care about them and we work to earn their trust."

We located our residences here in the Barrington area because our research concluded there was a need for elder services here.

The great advantage to operating here in the Barrington area is that this vibrant community is so full of warm, friendly, and interesting people from all walks of life. Additionally, the endless opportunities for rewarding social interactions at friendly local restaurants and the many high quality retail shops always make for a pleasurable outing for our residents when we take a field trip.

Jeffrey Hayes, LPN
Paradise Park Assisted Living and Memory Care, Lake Zurich Campus

We originally located our business in Barrington because we live in Barrington and enjoyed the feeling of community and working with the people we serve.

Andrew Wilson
Angel Water, Inc.

We located Paradise Robotics here because we are long-time residents.

Barrington area residents love the Lawnbott Robotic Lawn Mower, our flagship product. The greatest advantage of operating here in Barrington is the interest customers have shown in our products and the ease of networking with other businesses. The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce is also a great resource for promoting our business.

Gail Jones
Paradise Robotics

Harris Bank has been in this area for almost 90 years. I am sure the factors that attracted our founders to opening a bank in the Barrington area hold true today – a vibrant community that desires to do business locally; a diverse and growing local economy; a highly educated workforce; and a very attractive potential customer base.

Dick Resseguie,
Regional President - Barrington
Harris, N.A.

We chose the Barrington area because there was an interest in Irish dance lessons close to home. In order for their children to take part in school/church activies, sports, etc. it was important to have a dance school/class in close proximity to other activities.

From the families to the schools, businesses and organizations, Barrington is a COMMUNITY that is interested in making their town a great place to live. We have encountered wonderful people throughout our five years in the area and are proud to say that we are a part of the Barrington community.

Amy Moran, Director
Anam Mor Irish Dance & Music

After 20 years in Barrington the best part of having a business here revolves around the wonderful relationships we have made with our patients. We feel we have become a part of the Barrington experience, and we try to offer the highest level of personalized service to our patients.

Dr. David Tabak
Optometrist

I located my business in the Barrington area because it's where we have lived for over 20 years and our sons are involved in many activities in Barrington. For my business, the greatest advantage of operating here is that the people are very much into the great outdoors. Since our products are all about letting the fresh air in, it is a perfect fit!

Terry Winings
Screen Concepts of Barrington, Inc.

All of Barrington is user-friendly for both residents and businesses. Covering over 70 square miles, many say Deer Park is the ‘Gateway to Barrington.’ Whether you are coming from the east, west, south or north, getting in and around the Barrington area is ideal. IL Routes 12, 14, 53 and 59 make travel an easy option. PACE Bus service provides convenience for shopping, shows and local businesses. The Metra helps keep an open country feel to the community by providing commuters with easy access to urban diversity and businesses located in downtown Chicago, less than an hour away.

Alice Scifo
RE/MAX Advisors

My target market is the busy professional and that is what Barrington has a lot of. I am a wedding planner and I cater to the entire Chicagoland area. Most of my clients are very busy professionals who have little time to plan the wedding of their dreams. Our community has a great reputation for quality and I am proud to be a part of such a dynamic area.

Janet Swenson
The Great Affair

Thanks to high-speed broadband, proximity to O'Hare, reliable train service to downtown and quick access to freeways, I decided to base my business in Barrington seven years ago. Running a business from here allows me to stay connnected to my family and community without the hassles of commuting.

Michael Beightol
Coyote Marsh & Associates, Inc.

As the community’s healthcare provider it was not even a question whether to offer our product and services in the Barringiton area. Good Shepherd Hospital's success in this area and embracing community made building and operating the Health & Fitness Center seamless.

There are numerous advantages to being a business owner in Barrington but the one that is prevelant in my business is the loyalty the community shows its business owners. Their loyalty to this area and community is passed on from generation to generation. You don't see that type of sustained allegiance in other areas.

Peg Campana
Director, Good Shepherd Hospital
Health & Fitness Center

My business, Bataille Academie of the Danse, has been located in Barrington for 39 years. Barrington has always been a community supportive of the arts and one that values the arts as an important supplement for a child’s education.

The greatest advantage of operating a business in Barrington is that I can live in the village, work in the village and send my children to excellent schools in the village. My relationships with neighbors, friends, and other business owners only enchances my business.

D.D. Gallagher-Johnson
Bataille Academie of the Danse

The reason I wanted to open my business in the Barrington area is that it is one of the most beautiful areas in the Fox River Valley. My family and I lived here for the last 30 years. and I could not imagine another place being nearly as nice to live in. It has all the things that the country has to offer and is close enough to Chicago with its big-city culture.

Bruce Walterman
CEO Interiors by Bruce

Prior to locating in the Barrington area in 1992, I worked for 11 years in downtown Chicago. While I enjoyed my work, I grew tired of the commute and the anonymity that goes along with working in Chicago. I wanted to bring my personal life and business life closer together. The Barrington area provides me the chance to live and work in the same community.

The Barrington area provides a stable environment for businesses, which is a positive for both new and existing organizations. The area has also attracted a number of quality professionals; it is no longer necessary to go to Chicago to find professional service providers. Much of my work as a CPA puts me in contact with bankers and attorneys, and I still work with many of the professionals I first met 15 years ago.

Gregory S. Dowell
Bass, Solomon & Dowell, LLP

Our initial decision to headquarter our commercial legal practice in Barrington was largely a personal one; it was the pursuit of what I would call "Lifestyle consilience" – the bringing together in one community as many aspects of one's life as possible. Living and working in Barrington gave my family and me the chance to pursue our professional lives, educate our children and take part in community activities like Rotary, BASA soccer coaching and worship at the Village Church of Barrington all within the same area.

What pleasantly surprised us was how moving a former Loop-based commercial law practice to Barrington has actually broadened our client base. Add to that the number of innovating and growing small and midsized businesses located in the area and you have the makings of an unexpected but happy set of circumstances for both my colleagues and me here in Barrington.

Keith A. Hanson, Managing Partner
Hanson Peters Nye

After teaching part-time in the Barrington area for several years, and as referrals continued to steadily increases my business, it became clear that it was time to relocate. I wanted someplace quaint, comfortable, and easily accessible for my music and theatre studio. I found exactly that in downtown Barrington. The area is charming, and recent revitalization efforts have attracted an even greater number of people to local businesses and events. Bel Canto Studios is only a block from the train station and close to other downtown retailers. We hope to become a vital part of Barrington life, so we are working to build strong relationships with District 220 schools, community performing groups, and related businesses. Now that I'm here, I can't imagine ever leaving. Thank you, Barrington!

Jeanie Carter, Director
Bel Canto Studios, Inc.

We chose to open our business here for its beautiful surroundings, its real sense of community and the wonderful people we come in contact with every day. We are convinced that the Barrington area is the best location for us.

The greatest advantage of operating a business in the Barrington area has got to be the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the BACC we have been offered and have taken advantage of many beneficial programs: the networking groups, Business After Hours and the many publications available throughout the year.

We can also thank the BACC Government Affairs Committee for delivering a strong pro-business message and speaking up for members against anti-business legislation.

Aaron Muller
Barrington Resale

With over 45 years in quality, detailed woodworking and service, we know that homes in Barrington follow this same attention to detail in its woodworking patterns, styles and functionality. These homes, designed with natural woods to add elegance and richness, enhance and complement the natural beauty found throughout the Barrington area community. Serving the northeastern Illinois area from Wisconsin, to Indiana and out to DeKalb, we are proud to be a part of Barrington’s continued commitment to natural beauty and dedication to fine craftsmanship.

George Schaaf, Jr.
Schaaf Window Co., Inc.

I located my business close to my home in Barrington because of the business expension in the last 15 years in the northwest corridor all the way out to Harvard. The people and their pursuits share a similiar recognition of the beauty of the region.

Mary Gerak
Mary Ambrose-Gerak, Attorney at Law

Choosing Barrington for the location of our first branch was easy; it is a true "community" environment. The people make you feel welcome. Probably one of the best assests the Barrington community has is its residents. Barrington reflects beauty in its property and landscape; it was a natural fit for us in new construction and remodeling markets.

John Stonehouse
Idlewood Electric

I opened my business in Barrington because I live here. The best part about operating a business here are the people who come in and shop. They're friendly, generous, and loyal.

Kelly
Amazing Gracie's Children's Shop