What's Happening in Champaign, IL…

Strawberry Fields, a favorite store of many Champaign-Urbana residents, is set to reopen.

The natural foods market will be back in business sometime this spring. The store will be run by Mohammad Al-Heeti who, along with his family, owns and operates Champaign's World Harvest food store, which features international foods. Al-Heeti says he has been a fan of Strawberry Fields for a long time, and is happy to be able to reopen it.

Al-Heeti says he plans to keep the name, as well as the store's customary stock of organic and natural foods. He also plans to reopen the cafe that was once part of the establishment. To make way for the restaurant, Al-Heeti says he may cut down the size of the body care and vitamin sections, but adds that he plans to ask previous store operators what their bestselling items were. He says he is open to customers' suggestions as well.

Strawberry Fields closed after 40 years in business last month, and its patrons will now be eagerly awaiting its reopening, which Al-Heeti says may be in March or April.

Al-Heeti might consider working with a flyer printing company to create handouts for distribution near the store on opening day. Those opening or reopening stores often include a coupon on the flyer in order to generate more visits to the store.