As we are just days away from 2012, we can’t help but think of the many new businesses that have opened in Algonquin over the past year.

This year has brought a list of new restaurants and stores along the Randall Road corridor, downtown Algonquin and the East Side.

Here is an unofficial list of the new businesses that call Algonquin home.

New restaurants

• Georgia’s Restaurant — The breakfast and brunch joint, 1470 S. Randall Road, opened in May next to the Chili’s in the former IHOP. The restaurant takes after the style of a Chicago-Greek family restaurant, featuring large portions of quality food.

• Bubs Subs — The sub shop, 260 S. Randall Road, joined four other tenants in Stonegate Commons retail strip center in August. The restaurant features fresh sandwich bread baked at the shop daily, Italian beef and premium deli meats, as well as homemade sauces, dressings, and salads.

• Downtown Dogs 'n' More — At 107 S. Main St., the late-night eatery has a vintage style and cozy atmosphere, while its menu focuses on hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches – all at low prices.

• Niko's Lodge*— Owner Niko Kanakaris and his business partner, Frank Prokos, are opening their restaurant at the former Barley House location.

• Day Go Dogs — The hot dog restaurant is at the former Mel & Mars, 2761 W. Algonquin Road.

• Rainbow Restaurant* — What has become a staple restaurant in Elmhurst soon will be a part of Algonquin as well. A second Rainbow Restaurant is scheduled to open at Algonquin’s Fox River Center in January.

• EastSide Joey's Pizza — In August, Mark Drozek, of McHenry, recently opened his latest restaurant in the former Generoso Pizza site in the Fountain Square Plaza on Algonquin's East Side.

• Algonquin Mexican Restaurant — In a location where restaurants have come and gone, owners of the Algonquin Mexican Restaurant, which opened in June, hope to become a neighborhood fixture. The restaurant is at 648 Main St.

New retailers

• Shoelace Inc. — The owners of Village Shoes in Crystal Lake decided to move to Algonquin and change the name to Shoelace Inc. The store is in Algonquin Commons and opened in October.

• Headdy Glass, Gifts, and Gear — Opened in April just off Route 31 in downtown Algonquin, the store sells functional art, tobacco products and paintings.

• From Dee to You — From Dee to You Gift Boutique moved from its Crystal Lake location has set up shop at Algonquin Commons. The gift shop, which officially opened on Black Friday, specializes in customized gift baskets and goodie bags.

• The Gourmet Kernel — At 1724 S. Randall Road in Algonquin Commons, the gourmet popcorn store opened in September. Specialty flavor is "Oh Sweet Cheezus," a cheddar and caramel corn mixture.

• Ross Dress for Less — A retailer in August finally claimed the mysterious storefront that had been under construction all summer in Algonquin Commons. Ross Dress for Less, 1812 S. Randall Road, a national off-price apparel and home-fashion retailer, opened in September.

• Gordmans — Late last year, the village board approved an 11,000-square-foot addition onto the former Wickes Furniture building to make room for Gordmans, an Omaha-based discount retailer. The store opened in July.

• rue21 — The national fashion retailer opened a store in Algonquin Commons early in the summer.

• Charming Charlie — The store is a national chain of fashion accessory boutiques, providing trendy handbags, jewelry and scarves at affordable prices. Algonquin Commons location was the retailer's fifth store in Illinois.

• Sears Outlet — Located near Houlihan's and On The Border.

• Suithouse — The Suithouse is next door to On the Border. It opened in February.

• Shoe Carnival — Opened in early 2011 and is near JC Penny.
  

New beauty and health

• Hartt’s Salon Energy — Starting as a single mom with a 7-year-old son, Kelly Hartt first opened her salon 12 years ago in Crystal Lake. After a decade of increasing success, she moved Hartt’s Salon Energy to Main Street in downtown Algonquin in February.

• Radiant Heart Yoga — Owner Nichole Churchill opened her pre- and postnatal yoga studio at 123 S. Main St. in the fall.

• Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa — Illinois' first Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, 710 S. Randall Road, opened in the Woods Creek Shopping Center. The franchise is headquartered in New Jersey and there are 49 spas in the U.S. and Canada.

*Not open yet, but will open shortly after the new year.

Click here to vote for your new favorite business of 2011.