A mid-1800’s architectural wonder helped make Chicago the city it is today. The 96-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) connected the Great Lakes in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru, and amazingly unique towns sprung up that maintain their authentic charm to this date.
READ ON!Freedom. The Open Road. The American Dream. All are still alive on The Mother Road. The nostalgia of diners, museums, tourist stops and neon lights are there for you to visit as you make the drive from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. You can still get your Kicks on Route 66!
READ ON!A visit to Starved Rock State Park consists of many sights to behold, including breathtaking views of its many canyons and awe-inspiring scenes of eagles flying during the winter month.
READ ON!The Heritage Corridor is filled with events that are waiting just for you. Live music, fun festivals, learning programs, and active adventures await.
READ ON!Are you looking for a specific type of place to visit in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor? If you're a craft beer fan, you will love the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail? Seeing a thrilling journey or just an escape, check out Adventure Outside Chicago. We've got all the info to unlock your next trip right here.
READ ON!Throughout the Heritage Corridor, we have some of the best wineries, wine cafes and shops that are truly irreplaceable. If you are like many people, it can be challenging to find the perfect wine that best suits you.
In downtown Plainfield, Wine and Cheese Company can help you expand your taste palate along with learning how to pair your wine with delectable cheeses and more. For a little over a year now, Kacie Wadycki has owned the fine wine and artisan cheese shop. However, Wine & Cheese Company has been around for much longer than that.
“I actually took over Wine & Cheese and it has been here previously for 15 years and I didn’t want to see it go,” says Kacie. “Being the owner of another business, I was looking to expand in a different direction.”
Being a wine lover, Kacie saw a lot of potential in this new opportunity. She knew that she could take over and bring life back into this thriving business. It also helped that her first business is located in Plainfield, IL, making it easier for her to go between the two.
As the new owner, Kacie’s favorite part about her job is introducing others to new wines, while expanding their knowledge and love for it. Starting a new job or business can already be challenging, and Kacie took on an even bigger challenge starting in the midst of a pandemic.
“2020 was my first year of business and it has been challenging. I couldn’t have even anticipated the amount of pivoting and creativity it would take to survive,” she says.
However, Kacie had to try new ways to maintain business each day. Although they had to shut down in-house service temporarily, that didn’t stop her for serving her customers. Without indoor seating they had to come up with different specials, virtual wine tastings, and more. This has allowed her to realize all the potential her shop has, and can continue these new ideas for the future.
Being a woman business owner is special for Kacie in many ways, but most of all, it makes her feel empowered. “Once you stop holding yourself back the world if yours!” she says.
While visiting Wine & Cheese Company you can expect a judgement free zone where you are free to explore, learn and have fun. Kacie wants all her customer to understand that we all have our own wine journeys and at Wine & Cheese Company, you can go at your own paste while you learn.
For the future of Wine & Cheese Co, they are looking to spice things up a bit in their wine garden with music, private events, and more tables!
For more information about Wine & Cheese Co, visit https://www.hcdestinations.com/Wine/Wine-and-Cheese-Co