Weber-Stephen Products Co., which manufactures all of their charcoal grills, as well as the Summit, Genesis and On-the-Go lines in Palatine, has signed a long-term lease on a nearly 250,000-square-foot building in Elgin, Crain's is reporting. Weber plans to expand its local distribution operations, and the site's proximity to I-55, as well as the option to take occupancy quickly were key parts of the deal. No word on how many jobs this will mean for the Chicago metro area, but with consumer spending still lagging and manufacturing taking a beating these days, expansion of a business that manufactures at least some of its product locally is good news for Illinois. more ›

The Reader's Guide to Late Night Dining is now online, and there's the expected eclectic mix of diners, hot dog stands, taco joints, upscale pub grub, and places where only the fearless dare enter. Even better is that the range of offerings encompasses a wide stretch of the city and connecting suburbs (big love for Gene & Jude's Red Hots in River Grove!). If you're at the stage in life where "I'll sleep when... more ›