Woodhull Plaza truck stop shuttered
'Closed' signs posted this month
Sunday, October 28, 2007
WOODHULL - The business community is critical to any small town and the village of Woodhull is understandably saddened by the loss of a longtime business, the Woodhull Plaza, more recently known as Woodhull Family Restaurant.The business posted "closed" signs on windows in early October, though the restaurant had been closed for several weeks.
A project of Woodhull Land Development Corporation, started by Richard Geiger and Sheldon Dornink, Woodhull Plaza became an exciting addition to this small town after the opening of Interstate 74 with an exit west of Woodhull on Illinois 17.
History written by Richard Geiger for the 125th celebration of the community, states, "We (the corporation) had 8 1/2 acres of land too wet to grow beans on so we decided to grow a truck stop. Though we had little or no experience, hard work, long hours and cooperation between all departments developed Woodhull Plaza into one of the best and most profitable truck stops in the Midwest."
After the opening of Maxwell's Market, now Homestead Travel Plaza, the corporation was the area's largest employer with 163 employees.
The Woodhull Plaza was annexed to the village in 1970 and provided significant sales tax revenue to the community for many years, often approaching $100,000 in revenue in a single year, as well as the addition of many jobs.
"We've been given no official reason for closing the Plaza," Mayor Dave Holmes said, "and it is sad for the Village of Woodhull to lose any business."
