RBGA Small Business of the Month - February 2024

Shop with us for unique and custom gifts & paint with us at our DIY workshops ~ Sign Making, Wall/Door Decor & Canvas Painting are our specialties. Conveniently located in downtown Alton ~ Party On Broadway offers Monograms ~ Wall Words ~ Pinterest Ideas. Create your own masterpiece with our wood and canvas projects. We offer individual classes and group parties for adults and children. We are both a retail shop, where you can come in and create and a mobile art studio.

RBGA Small Business of the Month - October 2023

Occupying a repurposed post office, we function as a coffee house, all day brunch kitchen, and event space. We are focused on reclaiming and redeeming abandoned spaces while fostering encouragement for those serving Alton.

Coffee and Espresso, Cold Brews, Iced Coffee, Soups, Salads, Sandwiches and more.      

We know that coffee solves everything. That’s why we’re here to offer you the finest quality coffee available.

At Rachel & Co. Coffee House, we brew to order; offering globally-sourced beans from our counter to your cup.    

From Coffee Bean to Coffee Cup - We know what it’s like to get that intense craving for a great tasting cup of coffee. That’s why we set up shop in downtown Wood River Illinois. At Rachel & Co. Coffee House, we believe that everyone deserves coffee that is both delicious and from beans of the top quality. We carefully select and prepare each batch to perfection, bringing out the unique aromas and flavors of every bean for an experience that is both enjoyable and satisfying down to the last drop. Learn more about us and techniques below, and stop by to enjoy our Coffee House firsthand.    

RBGA Small Business of the Month - August 1997 
RBGA Small Business of the Month - May 2016 

RBGA Small Business of the Month - January 2023

Riverbend Kitchen and More (RKM) specializes in the design and construction of kitchens, bathrooms, wet bars, laundry rooms, built-ins, home offices, mudrooms, and more. We utilize casework and architectural millwork to enhance the entire home.  Our high-quality workmanship and state-of-the-art products make for a perfect blend of form and function, providing a value-driven design that encourages your own image and lifestyle.      

The experienced staff are available to:  

-design the layouts for your cabinetry, furniture, and accent pieces  

-select color palettes, fabrics, and finishes that complement one another and complete your vision  

While focusing heavily on cabinets and countertops, RKM provides turnkey options for your project; a one-stop shop for everything needed to outfit your new kitchen, bathroom, wet bar, home office, entry area, etc.

RBGA Small Business of the Month - March 2003

Rustic Roots is a platform for many local artists and crafters to sell their products and creations. We retail a number of companies that support charities, recycle, repurpose and give back! We provide a shopping experience that many other shops don’t have. Our goal is to continue to build our platform and give back to our community.

We recently expanded into the back of the building, and created a banquet space that we refer to as the “Rally Room.” This room has a warm, rustic feel that mimics that of the shop. We offer to rent the room out for different events. We hope to offer more services in the future as we continue to grow.  

We are Terry, EJ, and Linda, the owners of a new storefront, The Sauce Shop in Bethalto. We are also the owners of Phathead BBQ Sauce, the first business we created.  We have developed (currently) 5 flavors of BBQ Sauces, with a 6th one to be produced very soon. Our 5 flavors include Sweet Heat, Honey Kone, Smoke Whiskey, Pickle Garlic, and Jalapeño Garlic.  We are in numerous markets in the area and participate in local events and farmers' markets on a weekly basis.        

We decided to open The Sauce Shop as another way to promote our BBQ Sauces, plus highlight other sauces and seasonings that allowed customers to enhance their menus at home.  We offer a variety of seasonings and hot sauces, jellies, mayos, and locally made products, and also offer grilling supplies, décor, apparel, a selection of meat from Korte Meats, cheeses, jerky, and more! We wanted to create a store people that people would love to come to and be able to get products not seen in your typical grocery store.          

We are very excited to get more established in our community and are happy to have become a part of the RiverBend Growth Association! We joined the RBGA so we can essentially grow our two businesses.  Being a new shop in the area we want to get the word out about who we are and get people interested in coming to The Sauce Shop.  We would like to learn from others new ways to market ourselves and how to better the businesses we are creating.  We hope to build a bond with other local businesses in which we can all help and assist each other to become and stay successful.    

Our motto is simple: "If you try it you will buy it."

We are confident that once you've tried our sauce, you'll be hooked for life! Thanks for supporting our family-owned business - we hope Phathead BBQ Sauce brings as much joy to your table as it does to ours.

Store hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10-5; Friday and Saturday 9-5 

Scooter’s Coffee has positioned itself in Godfrey at 5330 Godfrey Road. Robert Semptimphelter, Jr. and his family are the franchise owners.        

“We believe in making local connections within the business community,” Semptimphelter noted, “and we are looking forward to supporting the residents of Godfrey while also having a positive impact on the community.”        

“By joining the RBGA, we are looking to make local networking connections, looking for ways to give back to the community, increase exposure, and access other resources provided by the chamber,” he added.        

With each location locally owned and operated, Scooter’s Coffee in Godfrey is part of the national franchise of over 550 locations in 26 states. It roasts “only the finest coffee beans in the world” at its headquarters in Omaha, Neb.      

In 1998, Scooter’s Coffee was born when co-founders Don and Linda Eckles began their journey by opening its first drive-thru coffeehouse in Bellevue, Neb. Now in its 25th year, Scooter’s Coffee has continued success due to its commitment to its original business principles and company core values.      

Noting the Caramelicious as the coffeehouse chain’s signature drink, the Scooter’s Coffee website also explains the story behind the name: “The very ?rst Scooter’s Coffee location was known as ‘Scooter’s Java Express.’ We named it ‘Scooter’s’ after reviewing a list of options including ‘Scooter.’ The name fit well with our mission to keep customers happy by helping them ‘scoot in and scoot out’ quickly.”      

We are a family owned distributorship. We sell all sorts of snacks and other items at a discount. Monday CLOSED Tuesday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Sunday CLOSED

RBGA Small Business of the Month - December 2012
RBGA Small Business of the Month - January 2019

Smart Choice Auto Sales sells pre-owned cars, trucks, vans & SUV’s in Godfrey, IL near Jerseyville Bethalto, IL and St Louis, Missouri.        

High Quality Pre-owned vehicles the cleanest you will find. We also provide free CARFAX history reports and offer Credit Union financing with the best available rates.  In addition, our prices are clearly marked on every vehicle, something most dealerships are afraid to do.  As a small, family-run business we pride ourselves in turning customers into friends with the hope you feel comfortable recommending us when faced with someone in the market for a vehicle.  We appreciate you taking the time to consider one of our vehicles and hope to have an opportunity to earn your business. We are located 1/2 mile outside of Alton, IL and only 30 minutes from St Louis, MO.  Find us online at https://www.SmartChoiceAutos.net or give us a call at (618)466-5900.       

RBGA Small Business of the Month - March 2014

Spencer T. Olin, a nearly 7,000 yd. 18-Hole Championship layout and 9-Hole Learning Center, provide schallenges, opportunities, and fun for golfers of all skill levels.   

4th Generation Family-Owned Business - I’m Nathaniel Kamp, the founder of Spring Hollow Hemp Farm – a premium artesian spring fed hemp farm nestled in beautiful, scenic Calhoun County Illinois. We source the top hemp seeds on the planet and grow them in our mineral rich, Calhoun sunkissed soil.Our farm features an Atresian Spring that we use to water our hemp plants. We have an unwavering dedication to growing the healthiest hemp, and creating the happiest customers.

RBGA Small Business of the Month - September 1995
RBGA Small Business of the Year - 1995
RBGA Small Business of the Month - July 2004
RBGA Small Business of the Month - April 2012
RBGA Small Business of the Month - July 2021 

St Peters Hardware & Rental in Alton, IL is your locally-owned hardware store. We're proud to be a member of the True Value family, and we're here to serve our community. Whether you're a pro or taking on a DIY home improvement project for the first time, we're right here in your neighborhood with the expert advice, tools, equipment and the products you need to get the job done. St Peters Hardware & Rental in Alton, IL, we're here to help. Come in and see us today.