Message from the Executive Director
Over 3,000 people attended the Winter Tree Lighting Festival, our final event of the year! This Festival was a jointly sponsored event between MCC, the Village and the Park District. Mild temperatures helped attendance, but lots of activities, music, and special attractions like ice-carving, the Kringle Market and Fireworks made it great fun. Santa’s Cottage had over 1,000 visitors during its 3-day run in December.
Planning for 2025 is underway. First up is the Annual Awards Dinner at Dover Straits restaurant on February 4th. The MCC Board is pleased to announce that the following individuals and businesses will be recognized for exceptional service in 2024:
Volunteers of the Year: Chris Woodard and Sarah Christ
Business of the Year: Luke’s of Mundelein
Organization of the Year: The University of Saint Mary’s of the Lake Seminary
Our first major event of the year is Park-on-Park on May 14th. Bingo at Tighthead Brewery continues every month on the fourth Monday from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, except for May 19, June 23, July 14 and December 15. See our full calendar of events on our website.
Thanks to all those businesses that sponsored an MCC event in 2024. See Complete List
We look forward to your support in 2025.
Terry Skriba
NEW BUSINESSES IN MUNDELEIN
Mundelein Community Connection (MCC) is a not for profit organization dedicated to the economic development, historic preservation and fostering a healthy community spirit in Mundelein’s central business district. Working together we provide an atmosphere where new and established businesses can grow and where families find the hometown they always wanted. Please welcome these recent businesses to downtown Mundelein.
Tool Library of Lake County
309 N. Seymour
The Tool Library is an all-volunteer, community-based, non-profit, tool lending library located in Hawley Commons at the SE corner of Hawley and Seymour Streets. Previously located at 428 N. Chicago Ave., the Tool Library has relocated and recently reopened for business. If you need a tool for a special job, you don’t have to buy it. You can borrow it from the Tool Library. For more information, and to browse the Library’s Tool Inventory, visit www.toollib.org . Membership in the tool library is open to all residents of Lake County.
North Central O Gaugers
173 N. Archer Ave.
The North Central O Gaugers is a model railroad club located in the Archer Business Center just south of the Metra Parking lot. The club was housed for many years in the Fremont Library, then at 428 N. Chicago Ave. They have relocated to this new location and are now open for visitors on the third Saturday of the month from 9 am until 3:30 pm. Parking is available at the Metra Station. For more information, visit ncogtrains.com .
Days Treats Brazilian Bakery
300 N. Lake Street
Newly opened at the NW corner of Lake and Division Streets in the pink building. You can’t miss it. The Bakery features bolos, docinhos e salgadihos, cakes, appetizers, and desserts. For more information, check out Days Treats on Facebook.
Action Martial Arts
706 E. Hawley Street
Action Martial Arts has been proudly serving Mundelein since 2013 and recently relocated from 609 S. Lake Street to downtown. They are now located in the East Hawley Street business corridor across the street from Fairhaven Lanes. For more information visit on programs and services visit: actionmundelein.com .
MCC EVENTS IN 2025
Our Events Calendar on the website has been updated with our 2025 events. Take a look and be sure to add them to your calendars.
BECOME A MEMBER OF MCC
Household Benefits
- Special Deals at the Farmers Market
- All Members are entered into a drawing for a free ticket to Beerfest
- All Members get 1 free card at Bingo each month
- All Members are entered into a raffle drawing for gift certificates secured from local Businesses held periodically at our events.
- Drawing for “skip-the-line” at Santa’s Cottage
Non-Profit/Business Benefits
- Recognition in the MCC Quarterly Newsletter
- Link on MCC Webpage
- Feature article on MCC website and Newsletter
- Recognition at all MCC Annual Events
- Opportunity for Promotional Table @ some MCC Events
- Personal Satisfaction for Supporting Downtown Mundelein
Business Member Profile
Formerly La Rosita Supermarket, the company re-branded in Fall 2024 as Los Perez Supermarket. The Perez family-owned chain has been headquartered in Palatine, Illinois since 1984, now operating six locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The Mundelein location features a full line of groceries, meats, dairy, and produce in an easy-in, easy-out, location in the heart of downtown. Los Perez boasts an excellent Taqueria for dine-in or carry-out orders and a wide-range of catering options for special occasions. Although they specialize in foods from Mexico and South America, Los Perez is definitely a grocery store for the whole community.
The interior has been re-modeled and expanded recently. Reviewers highlight the bakery and produce departments, friendly service, and the availability of hard-to-find items. Fresh “elote” (Mexican Street Corn) is available daily. Los Perez Supermarket is a great supporter of MCC.
Advia Credit Union, established in 1935, is a member-owned, financial cooperative dedicated to providing financial services to members in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. With assets exceeding $3 billion and membership nearing 190,000, Advia offers savings and checking accounts, CD’s, loans, Visa credit cards, home mortgages commercial loans; ATM and notary services, and financial advisor consultations.
In October 2024, Advia completed the acquisition of NorthSide Community Bank headquartered in Gurnee, Illinois. This strategic move expanded Advia’s presence in northeastern Illinois, adding branches in Mundelein, Gurnee, Niles and Riverwoods. The Mundelein Branch completed the changeover and rebranding from NorthSide Bank to Advia in December and became a generous supporter of MCC right away. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Drive-through service is available.
MCC Board Opening
Gerry Brin a long-serving member of MCC Board of Directors decided recently to step down from the Board after 17 years of volunteer service. Gerry joined the Board in 2006 shortly after moving to Grand Dominion in Mundelein. At that time MCC was known as Mundelein MainStreet. As a licensed CPA, Gerry served as our Treasurer for most of his time on the Board. He provided valuable guidance through the transition away from the MainStreet concept; through the lean times of the COVID years; to MCC’s resurgence in recent years. We are sad to see him go, and will miss. We know he will stay active with his other volunteer passion, The Donald Davidson-Alan Brin Memorial Chapter of the Leukemia Research Foundation.
Gerry’s departure opens a position on the Board. If you are interested in a fulfilling, community-focused, volunteer position, please contact Terry Skriba; email: info@mundeleincommunityconnection.org, or by phone at 847-970-9235.
Annual Dinner Reminder
February 4, 2025, 6 pm to 8 pm, Dover Straits Restaurant; Contact Terry Skriba at info@mundeleincommunityconnection.org or 847-970-9235 for reservations.
