Crain's Chicago Business articles from January 2005

Crain's Chicago Business archives from January 2005

Shopping List.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli Customers offer tips for finding your own personal chef: * The personal chef industry is self-regulated; there are no national standards for certification. Make sure the chef has a food sanitation card, plus...

A workday scene-and good food, too; New American winners, with a few reservations.(The Business of Life)
January 3, 2005... Byline: VIRGINIA GERST Wacker Drive mixes business with pleasure. It's a corridor of commerce, and, thanks to the Civic Opera House, a center of culture, too. But what about restaurants? We checked out three options and sing the...

Sears/Ed Lampert; Retail turnaround or liquidation?(Focus: Make or Break)(Sears, Roebuck and Co., Edward Lampert )(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Sandra Jones Something was missing when financier Edward Lampert took the stage at a Manhattan hotel in November to unveil his plan to take over Sears, Roebuck and Co. for $11 billion. When a Wall Street analyst asked about...

Psychic foretells year of conflict for 4 CEOs; A glimpse into the crystal ball.(Focus: Make or Break)
January 3, 2005... At Crain's, we believe that predicting the future, like performing heart surgery and driving stock cars, is best left to the professionals. So when we wanted to know what's in store for the CEOs of four of Chicago's largest corporations,...

Chicago Blackhawks; Without a labor agreement, storied franchise skates on thin ice.(Focus: Make or Break)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Jeremy Mullman Chicago Blackhawks owner William Wirtz wants a cap on player salaries. That's why he supported the National Hockey League owners' decision to lock out their players before the season was to begin in October. But...

Wine-growing biz expanding in Illinois; Some see it doubling again in next five years.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Vintners in Napa Valley may not have noticed yet, but the wine industry in Illinois is expanding. Entrepreneurs are planting vines and aging and selling their finished product out of their own tasting rooms, often at...

A DIETITIAN'S NIGHTMARE, CONSUMERS JUST YAWN; Are trans-fatty acids poised to be the next dietary pariah? Food makers are girding for a carb-style backlash, but it may never come.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON Kraft Foods Inc. and McDonald's Corp. are spending millions of dollars to remove trans-fatty acids from some of their products and to disclose the trans-fat content of others. But do consumers really care? No,...

Quiet halls are history at the Field; To shatter the reverie: better cell phone service.(News)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Make dinner plans while perusing the personal effects of Jackie O! Argue with your spouse while pondering the world's largest T-Rex skeleton! And-by all means-let that Ozzy Osbourne ring tone rip through the Hall of...

Attracting China's money; New group hopes to entice firms there to invest in Midwest.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Adlai Stevenson is working to bring Chinese investors to the Midwest. "The Midwest is unknown to them,'' says Mr. Stevenson, a former U.S. Senator from Illinois who serves as chairman of the recently formed Midwest...

People: Pharma exec gears up for new drug launch.(People)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: H. Lee Murphy Job: President and CEO, American Pharmaceutical Partners Inc., Schaumburg, since Nov. 18. Replaces Patrick Soon-Shiong, 52, who becomes executive chairman. Vitals: 51 years old; bachelor's degree in accounting,...

. . . while luxury items sell surprisingly well.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH AND JEREMY MULLMAN Sales of luxury goods led a stronger-than-expected holiday shopping season, with mass merchants forced into heavy discounting to eke out less impressive gains. Chicago-area retailers Abt...

USG Corp. Future hangs on legislation to limit asbestos liability payouts.(Focus: Make or Break)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Bob Tita Is 2005 the year that USG Corp. finally breaks its asbestos chains? For 31/2 years, bankruptcy has shielded Chicago-based USG from thousands of asbestos-exposure lawsuits. The company can't come out of Chapter 11...

Long on docs' side, now he sues them; The benefit of insight: $89.8 million in 2004.(News)(Kevin G. Burke)
January 3, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN A new leader is emerging among Chicago's powerful medical malpractice plaintiffs lawyers, 50-year-old Kevin G. Burke, who operates with a distinct advantage over his better-known competitors: his eight years spent on...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
January 3, 2005... This Week JAN. 4: Score presents Basics of Going Into Business. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Score, Citicorp Center, 500 W. Madison St., Suite 1250. Fee: $50. (312) 353-7724. JAN. 5: Midwest Society of Professional Consultants presents Effective...

On the Move.(People)
January 3, 2005... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING DeStefano & Partners ltd., Chicago: Scott Sarver, 43, to president, from principal. Patrick Engineering Inc., Lisle: Richard J. Hayes Jr., 40, to business director, from vice-president of Chicago operations at...

McPier takes $124-mil. dive; 2004 deficit eclipses previous year's, and '05 looks tough, too.(News)(McCormick Place, Navy Pier)
January 3, 2005... Byline: KRISTINA BUCHTHAL The authority that operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier lost $123.7 million in the year ended June 30, 2004, roughly four times the previous fiscal year's deficit, and 2005 is shaping up as another tough year....

Northfield Laboratories; Moment of truth for company's only product.(Focus: Make or Break)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... At Northfield Laboratories Inc., the blood may be fake, but the tension is real. Northfield is a one-product company, and this year it may learn whether it has permission to sell that product. The go-ahead could be worth $400 million in...

Laidlaw stock at end of line? Bus company shares near estimated breakup value.(Markets)
January 3, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA It could be time for investors to jump off the Laidlaw International Inc. bus, with shares of the Naperville-based transportation concern having already soared close to its estimated breakup value of more than $24, or...

Trip from work is a walk in the park.(The Business of Life)(Harris Alternatives LLC.)(Interview)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Anita Nagler, 48, and Robert F. Moyer, 57, have been married since 1984, and each works at a large investment firm: Ms. Nagler is CEO of Harris Alternatives LLC, and Mr. Moyer is president of Driehaus Capital...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 3, 2005... THIS WEEK JAN. 6-10: TransWorld's Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories Show, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, estimated attendance 20,000. JAN. 7-9: Adventures in Travel Expo, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, public. JAN....

Kroc gift tests Salvation Army; S. Side center requires tough extra fund raising.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Chicago's chapter of the Salvation Army is learning that receiving a gift of $80 million to $100 million to build a 25-acre South Side community center isn't as simple as depositing the check and rolling out the...

SALES SOFT IN SUBURBS . . . In refurbished downtowns, merchants report poor holiday results as lifestyle centers lure shoppers.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Despite a last-minute shopping surge that lifted retailers' holiday performance nationally, independent merchants in suburban downtowns are gasping for air after one of their worst holiday seasons in memory. From...

Who's cooking? Not you; Personal chefs fill niche; meals for many families.(The Business of Life)
January 3, 2005... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI What's for dinner? Pizza? Chinese? A can of chili? A bowl of cereal? How about this: a delicious, restaurant-quality meal sitting in your fridge, ready after a quick turn in the microwave or oven? That's...

Seen & Noted: A hard look at business people.(The Business of Life)(Metis Advisory Group )(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Darci Smith J. Christopher Newman, 61, who handles hospital planning and mergers as a principal at Metis Advisory Group in Rosemont, has spent countless hours concentrating on the attitudes, gestures and psychological states of...

Late News.(Briefs)(Norwegian-American Hospital )(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Ditka news sparks ticket blitz for Rush The Arena Football League's Chicago Rush is 20% ahead of last year's ticket-selling pace, thanks to a spike in season-ticket sales following the team's December announcement that Chicago Bears legend...

For the Record.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Boeing received an order for 10 7E7 jets from Continental Airlines, the first U.S. carrier to invest in the new efficient wide-body airplanes. Meanwhile, Boeing stock was rattled last week after China declared it would not make any airplane...

$1-bil. end to Pritzker feud?(Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... The Pritzker family saga appears headed to an end after the two youngest members of the clan reportedly agreed to a settlement giving them about $500 million each. The two-year legal battle, launched by Liesel Pritzker and later joined by her...

True uniter.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Sandra Swanson The local United Way was a disjointed network of offices for decades. Then Janet Froetscher was hired, in February 2003, and read an article that showed the way to dramatic change. The 54 offices were consolidated...

Expert Opinion: What to do to soothe a sore throat?(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann "The first thing is a warm saltwater rinse up into my nostrils,'' says Grammy-nominated jazz singer Kurt Elling. "They sell a product called Neti Pot ($12.95, www. thenetipot.com), and it's shaped like a little...

Rural phone biz dials up cash for deals; IPO insight: consolidated communications.(Markets)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: H. Lee Murphy Company: Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc., Mattoon, Ill. Filed Dec. 8 for initial public offering of stock. Number of shares and price not indicated. Business: Rural telephone service. History:...

Block 37; Will ground break or Daley snap?(Focus: Make or Break)(long-vacant Loop plot on State Street across from Marshall Field)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Alby Gallun After 15 frustrating years of inaction at Block 37, 2005 should be the year that either ground breaks or Mayor Richard M. Daley's patience wears thin. The long-vacant Loop plot on State Street across from Marshall...

Emerald Casino; Investors find out if they lost a bet.(Focus: Make or Break)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Kristina Buchthal For Emerald Casino Inc. investors, 2005 could be the year they evade disaster, or the year a bad deal gets even worse. Both the Illinois attorney general and the Illinois Supreme Court could quash the sale of...

Giving is good and Chicago's the better for it.(Opinion)(Millennium Park)
January 3, 2005... Much of Chicago is justifiably proud of our new $475-million Millennium Park, which received a big part of its funding from wealthy individuals in the city's business community. We're proud, too, that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric...

Gold-plated guv; BLAGOJEVICH IS PROVING A BETTER POL THAN ADMINISTRATOR. BUT THAT'S NOT HURTING HIM.(News)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz After two years of feuding with Democrats and Republicans alike, plucking business' pocketbook and preening before every possible TV camera, you'd think freshman Gov. Rod Blagojevich would be facing one whopper of a...

Kettles are in the black: Charities say giving is up.(News)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: MARK SCHEFFLER Chicago-area charities are reporting increased donations, reflecting the improving economy and a national jump in giving. The Salvation Army's Chicago operation fell 10% shy last year of its $8-million...

Stock Report: Big payday, delisting fears dent Hollinger.(Markets)(Hollinger International Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Jeremy Mullman A $227-million dividend payment and delisting fears pushed shares of Chicago-based Hollinger International Inc. down 13.6% as of Thursday's close. The $2.50-per-share payout by the publisher of the Chicago...

On the Clock: Skin colorer.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Hannah Aitchison, 38, artist, Deluxe Tattoo, Chicago Salary: $50,000 a year Years on the job: Six Starting point: Her brother was an artist. "He saw me struggling to balance a series of very unpleasant corporate...

USF seeks traction in truck biz; Missing opportunities even as demand rises.(Markets)
January 3, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Trucking company USF Corp. is trying to shift into higher gear before the industry's recovery passes it by. An upswing in manufacturing in 2004 increased demand for truck hauling like no time since the late 1990s. But...

Lotteries are another state tax-but with better marketing.(Opinion)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Alicia Hansen In 1986, the Illinois Lottery placed a billboard in a poor Chicago neighborhood that read, "From Washington Street to Easy Street.'' Even though similar billboards were placed around the city with different street...

Melissa Bean; Mission for 2005: Fend off the GOP.(Focus: Make or Break)(SBC Communications Inc., Comcast Corp.'s business competition)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Julie Johnsson It sounds like a tale from Shakespeare: two children of a former queen, torn asunder and about to engage in an epic battle, intent on one another's destruction. And even if that exaggerates the drama in the...

Correction.(Corrections)(Correction Notice)
January 3, 2005... A Dec. 13 story on art dealer Maya Polsky referred incorrectly to "jury awards'' in divorce cases. Illinois divorce cases are decided by judges.

Burke's Track Record.(News)(Kevin G. Burke)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Kevin G. Burke's medical malpractice settlements and verdicts in 2004 total $89.8 million. Here are the top three: * Evelyn Arkebauer, et al. v. Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, et al. ...

The other Mr. Burke.(News)(Kevin G. Burke)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... When Kevin G. Burke, the plaintiff's lawyer, wins a multimillion-dollar verdict, Kevin J. Burke, the defense lawyer, hears about it. Would-be clients jam his phone lines, acquaintances congratulate his wife and the doctors he represents...

SBC customers; Will you pay more for worse service?(Focus: Make or Break)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Laurie Cunningham It's been just two months since Melissa Bean unseated 35-year incumbent Republican Philip Crane to win a seat in Congress, and already she's got a target on her back. The freshman congresswoman must file for...

NEED TO KNOW.(Focus: Make or Break)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2005... Byline: Sources: Robert Half Management Resources, Fred Alger Management Inc. 45% of CFOs list employee health care plans as the biggest cost increase they anticipate this year 34% of CFOs say increasing revenue will be their...

ONLINE POLL: Which headline are you most likely to see in 2005?(Focus: Make or Break)
January 3, 2005... A Construction begins at Block 37 B UAL emerges from bankruptcy C CTA raises fares to $2 D Spitzer launches investigation of "all remaining U.S. industries" Go to ChicagoBusiness.com/poll to add your input.

Scene of his past-and future.(The Business of Life)(Andre Rice president of Muller & Monroe Asset Management LLC)(Interview)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Gretchen Wahl Andre Rice, president of private-equity firm Muller & Monroe Asset Management LLC, steers clients' money to funds managed by women and minorities. From his south-facing office in the Equitable Building, Mr. Rice, 47,...

ON THE HIP-HOP HUNT; Kanye West brought out-of-town interest-but venture capitalists put $1 million on the locals.(News)
January 10, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Chicago rapper Kanye West's 10 recent Grammy nominations have major record labels-and private investors-combing Chicago for hip-hop talent. Atlantic Records of New York signed Chicago rappers Bumpy Johnson, Lupe...

Case against Ryan detailed.(Briefs)(George Ryan)(Governor)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... An unsealed document laid bare the federal case against George Ryan, highlighting allegations that the former governor essentially offered his office as a command post for two lobbyists who, in return, funneled donations to Mr. Ryan's campaign...

Stock Report: Bally up on report of stake for sale.(Markets)(Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Jeremy Mullman Shares of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. climbed nearly 17% Friday on speculation that the health club operator is in talks to sell a large stake to a group of private-equity firms. According to a story Friday...

Hospital wins stork market; Upscale services give Northwestern edge over rivals.(News)
January 10, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN One out of every 10 babies born in Cook County in 2003 arrived at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the seventh-busiest birthing center in the U.S. Northwestern's marketshare in births more than doubled to 11.6%...

SHORTY'S PLAYLIST.(News)
January 10, 2005... 1992: Signs two local acts to major rap labels. 1993: Signs rappers Crucial Conflict to Pallas Records. Their 1996 album, "The Final Tic,'' eventually sells more than 500,000 copies. 1996-2000: Signs five more local acts to important...

County Board should reject Stroger budget.(Opinion)(Cook County Board)
January 10, 2005... Before taking money out of taxpayers' pockets, government has the responsibility to do what it reasonably can to limit its spending. The $3.05-billion fiscal 2005 budget proposed last week by Cook County Board President John Stroger fails that...

Eat smart when you meet at Rosemont; Steakhouse, bistro meals belong on the agenda.(The Business of Life)
January 10, 2005... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI Five minutes from O'Hare International Airport, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont is a suburban hub for trade and consumer shows and small business meetings. It draws hundreds of thousands of people...

Just off-center.(The Business of Life)
January 10, 2005... * Walk or drive one mile north of the convention center to Carlucci for stylish Tuscan-flavored dining, 6111 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 518-0990. Pasta dishes are just $5 on Mondays and Tuesdays. * One long block south is Maria's...

DeVry shares flunked in 2005; Click's connected.(Markets)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY DeVry Inc. shareholders paid the price last year for plunging profits and falling enrollments at the for-profit education specialist. Management's turn may come this year. While broader market indexes rose, DeVry...

A little help from your friends; Peer groups, networks, boards offer cheap tips.(Focus: Small Business)
January 10, 2005... Byline: GRETCHEN WAHL Good advice is hard to come by, especially for small business owners. Consultants are expensive. Even trusted employees shouldn't know some secrets. Vendors, lawyers and accountants may be compromised. A...

Seen & Noted: Gaming vs. grooming.(The Business of Life)
January 10, 2005... Halsted Street in Lincoln Park, long popular with women, finally reaches out to the guys, with two new stores for either side of a man's psyche. Escape 2128 N. Halsted St., (773) 348-4217 www.enterescape.com Store masquerading as...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
January 10, 2005... This Week JAN. 10: Chicago Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors presents The Auditor's Practical Guide to Governance, Ethics and Compliance. 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. University of Chicago, Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive....

Suburbs snip truck routes.(News)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Robert Tita Roadblocks to truck traffic in Chicago suburbs force more rigs onto the area's clogged expressways. A system of state-designated truck routes in Illinois is supposed to give truckers an alternative to expressways,...

Real estate loan boom: Will banks be sorry? Shift in lending may bring more risk as interest rates climb.(Markets)
January 10, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Chicago's business banks have raised their bets on local real estate developers. Loans to developers and real estate investors mushroomed at many banks in the last five years amid a housing boom fueled by low...

Highway bill going nowhere-again.(News)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION WASHINGTON-As a new session of Congress gets under way, the federal highway bill appears headed for the same dead end as last year, leaving several Chicago-area megaprojects in limbo. The state is putting no new...

Boss eyes shelf space for Home Products; Spotlight: Douglas Ramsdale.(People)(Home Products International Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: H. Lee Murphy Job: President and CEO, Home Products International Inc. of Chicago. Replaced James R. Tennant after affiliates of Sam Zell acquired the company Dec. 6. Vitals: 59 years old; bachelor's degree in business studies,...

Well-versed.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Virginia Gerst John Barr, 61, is a former Wall Street investment banker, college professor and published poet. He's now president of the Chicago-based Poetry Foundation, the recipient of Ruth Lilly's $100-million 2002 bequest. It...

When to hold, when to fold; Can your struggling firm be saved-or is it time to pull the plug?(Focus: Small Business)
January 10, 2005... Byline: DEE GILL Entrepreneurs love to talk about perseverance. But knowing when to give up on a business is at least as difficult as deciding to stick it out. That was the position Bart McCartin found himself in four years ago, when...

On the Move.(People)
January 10, 2005... Financial Services First American Bank, Elk Grove Village: Frederick M. Snow, 49, to senior vice-president and general counsel, from partner at Chapman & Cutler LLP. Horizon Cash Management LLC, Chicago: Randal Burgess, 28, to...

Stop wasting your time; Hurry up and read this-the clock is ticking.(Focus: Small Business)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: MARK HENRICKS Most of us are much more adept at procrastination than time management. Efficiency gurus offer these tips to make every minute count: Meetings: Less is more Rule No. 1: If you can't think of a good reason to...

Rx royalty looks lower for NU, prof; 'Controlled substance' tag cuts Lyrica potential.(News)(Northwestern University, pain relief drug, porfits)
January 10, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION A new pain relief drug that once promised to be a home run is now looking more like a double for Northwestern University and Richard Silverman, the chemistry professor who invented it. Federal approval of...

Business news veteran joins Crain's as online editor.(News)(Crain's Chicago Business appoints Michael McHugh)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: McHugh Michael McHugh, longtime Chicago bureau chief for Dow Jones Newswires, has joined Crain's Chicago Business as online editor, supervising daily news alerts and the newspaper's Web site, ChicagoBusiness.com. Mr. McHugh,...

Past Master.(The Business of Life)(mitigation specialist)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Kevin Davis Julie Norman, 59, mitigation specialist Salary: $50,000 to $60,000 annually; she usually works several cases at once. Duties: Hired by defense lawyers or public defenders to investigate backgrounds and...

Seigle's sues burb over 'lumber tax'; But St. Charles says it's lost $1 mil. from firm's deals.(News)
January 10, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY A dispute over lumber sales in St. Charles has spilled over into the courts and could have a wider impact on other suburbs. Last week, Seigle's Inc., the Elgin-based chain of 11 lumber and home-improvement stores,...

Time for sports fans to pony up and help strapped CTA.(Opinion)(Chicago Transit Authority)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Costas Spirou Chicago's $5.1-billion 2005 budget includes $74.6 million in tax increases and $11.1 million from additional fees. Larger economic challenges have pressured governments across the country to prioritize expenditures...

Smoke 'em out; PHILIP MORRIS RIDES TO TAX COLLECTORS' RESCUE.(News)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Chicago Police Superintendent Philip Cline got the attention last May when they announced the seizure of 120,000 packs of contraband cigarettes being sold without $2.14 a pack in...

Expert Opinion: What's the best way to keep paperwork from taking over your desk?(The Business of Life)(Maureen Gainer)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Byline: Darci Smith Use a bin or large basket instead of the tiny inboxes that allow clutter to creep onto your desk, says Maureen Gainer, owner of Gainer Organizing in Chicago. "Not filing on time doesn't really hurt anyone....

NUCLEAR SPOTLIGHT on exelon executive; In his first lead role on a turnaround, Crane carries heavy load in making megamerger work.
January 10, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS After playing second fiddle for years to nuclear power plant virtuoso Oliver Kingsley, Christopher Crane is ready for his solo. A lot is riding on the Exelon Corp. executive's performance. The success of Exelon's...

White-collar job segment lags here; Recovery comes slowly for professional services.(News)(industry news)
January 10, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI dATe SINGH Anyone who was hoping for a big pickup in hiring at Chicago professional services firms is in for a disappointment in 2005. Accounting firms, management consultancies, computer service providers, law firms and...

South Loop zoning hits condo plans; Height, density limits would trim new projects, cut value for developers.(News)
January 10, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Chicago is tightening up zoning in parts of the South Loop, making it harder to build big condo projects in one of the city's fastest-growing residential neighborhoods. Covering stretches of South Prairie Avenue,...

Oracle's leftovers could nourish SSA; Divestiture would play into local firm's hands.
January 10, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON The $10.3-billion takeover of software giant PeopleSoft Inc. by Oracle Corp. presents an opportunity for SSA Global Technologies Inc. to double its size. The Chicago software company is seen as the logical buyer...

Malls plant ad messages in shoppers' paths; Kiosks, video screens aim for visitors' wallets.(News)
January 10, 2005... Byline: SANDRA JONES Shopping centers have a message for advertisers: The mall is now the medium. Malls from Old Orchard in Skokie to Water Tower Place in Chicago are outfitting themselves with back-lit kiosks and video screens to...

Need to Know.(Focus: Small Business)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... 70% proportion of small business owners who made cash donations to charity last year. $3,600 the average small business donation 12 hours the time small business owners say they dedicated per month to charity work ...

Online Poll.(Focus: Small Business)
January 10, 2005... What will be the primary effect of increasing Illinois' minimum wage from $5.50 to $6.50 an hour? A. Fewer working poor B. Fewer jobs C. More consumer spending D. More expensive french fries Go to ChicagoBusiness.com/poll...

Take the office with you.(Focus: Small Business)(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Deerfield real estate broker Evan Kane runs his company from anywhere, thanks to a laptop computer, wireless modem, cell phone and portable printer and scanner. "I've never had to say, 'Can you wait an hour until I'm back in the office?'"...

Keep a clean in-box.(Focus: Small Business)(InBoxer, anti-spam program )(Brief Article)
January 10, 2005... Last year, the spam in Dan Bauer's e-mail each day went from a few dozen to hundreds. So Mr. Bauer, owner of Highland Park consulting and marketing firm Bauer & Associates Inc., installed an anti-spam program called InBoxer, and the flood...

Resolved: Small biz owners vow to thrive in '05; Entrepreneurs share their new-year resolutions.(Focus: Small Business)
January 10, 2005... Byline: cynthia hanson It's a new year, and entrepreneurs are as prone as anybody to resolution-making. We asked a handful of Chicago small business owners to tell us what they hope to do better or differently in the new year: Cary...