Bolingbrook Resident Closes Business After 10 Years

Boozle B's in Plainfield closed for good at the end of December. Gina Ratini, a Bolingbrook resident and the former owner of Boozle B's, developed the idea for a children's salon more than 10 years ago when her three-year-old son kept getting "the worst haircuts" at local salons.

Ratini's business, located near the intersection of Route 59 and 119th Street, offered haircuts to children and adults, and they hosted dress-up birthday parties.
"It was fun for a long time," Ratini said. "We had over 1,400 birthdays in the ten-year span."

Plainfield, Illinois, January 3, 2017-Almost everything has been removed from Boozle B's (Patrick Martin/Patch)

In December 2015 an Arizona-based real estate investment company called Cole Capital acquired the shopping center where Boozle B's is located, according to Parke Chapman, a representative for the company. Cole Capital owns the shopping center through a real estate investment trust, which owns and operates commercial property for investors.

The lease for Boozle B's was due for renewal at the end of 2016, and Ratini began to negotiate for a new lease last year.

Another Arizona-based, company, Vereit, which manages the shopping center for Cole Capital, told Ratini that Booozle B's rent was below the market rate and it would need to increase. Ratini said she could not meet the terms of the new lease with higher rent.

Plainfield, Illinois, January 3, 2017-Ratini and her husband Brian before they lock up the business for the last time (Patrick Martin/Patch)

Ratini said she did not reach out to the village or business groups while negotiating for the new lease. The other businesses in the shopping center did not appear to be impacted by the change in ownership.

A year ago, Ratini started a mobile boutique based out of a truck. She plans on continuing that rent-free business.

"I don't have that overhead, that huge monthly cost," Ratini said. "It's been a refreshing change."

Photo at top: Plainfield, Illinois, January 3, 2017-Gina Ratini waits for a representative from the Arizona-based property management company Vereit to inspect her store before turning it over (Patrick Martin/Patch)