OUR PLACE
Buona Restaurant Group & Rainbow Cone is coming to Lake Geneva.
Buona Beef has been around since 1981 and began its journey to success in Illinois. This is a family business that has grown substantially and has become very well-known, especially for its signature Italian beef. The Buona family would like to expand the business, which now includes the “Rainbow Cone,” to its new restaurant in Lake Geneva.
Buona Beef has an extensive menu, which includes Italian beef, burgers, hotdogs, pasta, pizza, salads and sides, desserts, and shakes, and so much more, including the Rainbow Cone. The Original Rainbow Cone has been a Chicago tradition for over 95 years. The cone is stacked with slices of five different flavors: orange sherbet, pistachio, strawberry, and chocolate.
Applicant 6801 (Investments LLC) previewed its request for a general development plan submitted to Lake Geneva’s Plan Commission last week. The property, located at 393 North Edwards Boulevard, is the potential location in question. The property is currently zoned for planned development and this proposal requires an amendment to the general development to allow for additional land use, specifically allowing a drive-thru for sales and service. The commissioners liked the idea of a thriving business moving into the empty building at 393 Edwards Boulevard (the former Red Geranium) but were reluctant to recommend approval due to the expected increase in traffic it would bring.
The Buona Company is very popular in the Chicagoland area and will most likely become popular in Lake Geneva, as well. The idea of including a drive through increases the likelihood of traffic increases and this has the commissioners very concerned, especially regarding left hand turns onto that stretch of roadway. Commissioners would like the applicants to get a better handle on the traffic issues in that area and come up with possible solutions. The commission would like the city to do the same. The request was continued to the next plan commission meeting in December of 2022.
The Geneva Lake Environmental Agency (GLEA) manages the Clean Boat Clean Waters (CBCW) program.
That program published the numbers and findings of this year’s program. The program began on May 28th, and went through October 26th, during which inspectors were located at five launches (Fontana, Williams Bay, Lake Geneva, Linn, and Hillside) surveying boaters on use of the lake and educating on the spread of invasive aquatic species. During the summer over 881 hours were spent at the launches, speaking to over 3,180 boaters, and encouraging them to clean off their boats before putting in their boats and then again after pulling them from the water.
The most crucial part of their mission is educating boaters on the dangers of spreading invasive species and the consequences that could occur to the lake. Change does not happen without education and the GLEA is wonderful at doing just that. The work the GLEA does around the lake makes a difference in helping Geneva Lake to be safer for the boaters, swimmers, and all species living in and around the lake. The GLEA was also able to determine that most boaters entering Geneva Lake had previously been on another lake within the last five days without rinsing off their boats. This is a huge ‘tell’ that something needs to change, and the Clean Boat Clean Waters program is a readily available solution to the problem. Boat cleaning works but is almost impossible to enforce.
