Bennie's Cleaners Inc.

02/19/2026

This Instagram account popped up yesterday, and we're not really sure what's going on, but maybe you should follow it so you can stay updated on what's going on next door. We have a feeling it might be pretty cool... 🤔

Link in the comments to this mysterious Instagram...

01/09/2026

10/27/2025

The Grown-Up Book Fair is THIS WEEK! We hope to see you on Saturday from 5-10 p.m. for our first literary event.

📖 27 Illinois Authors
🛍 7 Indie Bookstores
🎒 Community Organizations
🎨 Loads of Book-ish artists, creators, and crafties

Plus, Ivy House Creative Cafe will be serving signature coffees and drinks, and local baker Streusal and Sage will have a wide assortment of homemade pastries and goodies. We'll also have other beverages and snacks available for purchase. Click the link in our event to get your FREE tickets and learn more about this incredible event.

10/27/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is local author Olivia Hartwell. Olivia writes "stories of the strange and unusual," and she'll be featuring her paperback, "Fates Unwoven: Short Tales of the Strange and Unusual," at our event.

Meet Olivia in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/27/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is Illinois Author Jennifer Lloyd. Jennifer writes suspenseful dark romance, and her debut novel, "Broken Blossoms," will be at the book fair! She's a lifelong Midwesterner who thrives in the outdoors, whether she’s running with her Weimaraner and daughter, enjoying family bike rides, or simply soaking up the sun.

Meet Jennifer in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/27/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is Illinois author Victoria J. Hyla. She is the author of the substantive women’s fiction Hearts Drawn Wyld trilogy (“In Death We Part,” “Running in the Mists,” “Awake in Elysian Fields”) and the Hotel Brisas collection (“Rooted Hearts”) as well as several anthology-published short stories in several genres (now published in a collection called “Life Between the Lines”)

Meet Victoria in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/27/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is Illinois author and mental health advocate Jenny Kraakevik. Her book, "The Impact of an Emotional High: How to Talk about Bipolar Disorder with Your Family," takes readers on her whole-hearted, beautifully messy journey to make sense of bipolar disorder. Jennifer is also the co-founder of Mental Bloom Collective, a female-founded and run organization that aims to destimgatize mental illness.

Meet Jennifer in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/27/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is Rockford author Emily Grobe. Emily Grobe is a Rockford-area native and has been an aspiring author/illustrator since her time at Cherry Valley Elementary School. Though her adult life has brought with it a professional career in design and marketing, she recently found her way back to that childhood dream. Emily recently self-published her first children's book, Differences, and is excited to see where this journey takes her next.

Meet Emily in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/27/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever !

Today's spotlight is highlighting one of the incredible bookstores joining our event: The Novel Spot! This woman-owned, independent bookstore, in the charming small town of Pecatonica, IL, houses book for all ages. Owner Emily Gibson houses a wonderful collection, and she's an avid supporter of local authors.

Come see all The Novel Spot has to offer at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/22/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is local author Fauna Lewis. Fauna is an Illinois-based author who blends dark fantasy and emotional realism. She started writing stories in the first grade; her first completed book, 'black delphinium' -- a YA paranormal-fiction novel based in the Rockford area -- was published in 2015. Currently, she is working on the third and final novel in the 'black delphinium' series, as well as a self-challenge in a unique pair of companion poetry books.

Meet Fauna in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚

10/22/2025

We can’t wait to see you on November 1 for our first-ever ! Leading up to the event, we’ll be sharing spotlights on the incredible local authors, bookish creators, and bookstores joining us. 📚

Today's spotlight is local author Alex Hartwell. Alex is a novelist, poet, journalist, screenwriter, and script consultant. He is the author of numerous short story collections in addition to working with film producers in the USA and Australia.

Meet Alex in person at the Grown-Up Book Fair on Nov. 1, and follow along for more author spotlights and event updates. 📚