There are so many things that make the vibrant city of Edwardsville one of the best places to live and work in Madison County.
Here are my top ten things I love about Edwardsville:
1. Pantera's Pizza. When I grew up, my sister worked at the Pantera's in Alton while completing her education at SIUE. I was raised on the stuff. Unfortunately, there is only one Pantera's left in the area - fortunately it is in Edwardsville.
My favorite? Sausage, cheddar cheese, bacon bits and pepperoni on thick crust.
Pantera's Pizza
1522 Troy Rd
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-692-6000
2. Leclaire Park. When I was in high school, I worked at the old Edwardsville K-Mart. It's now Kohl's department store. My friends and I used to grab a burger at one of the fast food joints and head over to Leclaire Park on our lunch hour. I still love the lake view and the tranquil feeling you get even though you're in the middle of an active neighborhood. Great memories.
3. Shopping. A few short years ago a great day of shopping meant making a trek to Fairview Heights. Lately though, Edwardsville has become a great option. In just one shopping center Edwardsville is now home to Borders, Old Navy, Ashley Furniture, Shoe Carnival, PetCo, Michael's, Starbucks, Best Buy, 54th Street Grill, St. Louis Bread Co, Dierbergs, Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Robin - I know I've missed more stores than I've listed. This area is coupled with great shopping across the street at Kohl's, Target, Hallmark and Fashion Bug.
4. Location. Edwardsville is close to downtown St. Louis, and a quick drive to Collinsville, Maryville, Troy, Glen Carbon, Wood River and Bethalto.
5. Historic Homes. From the St. Louis Street Historical district to Leclaire and the side streets in-between... if you love historic homes, you'll love Edwardsville.
6. Speciality Shops. I love shopping at locally owned places. I know shopping has already been on the list, but I'm a woman and I love it. ;) I like Joe's Market Basket, a small family-owned store featuring fresh groceries and all your outdoor needs. Avon on Main, 222 Artisan Bakery, Sacred Grounds Cafe and various boutiques on Main Street are also a great treat.
7. Nature. Even though Edwardsville is a large town, there are still plenty of places to escape. With over 10 parks including the Watershed Nature Center and too many bike trails to count, Edwardsville was made for nature lovers.
8. The downtown vibe. Laurie's Place is a great place to catch live music. Erato, Bigelo's Bistro, The Stagger Inn... if you like nightlife, downtown is the place to be.
9. Fine dining. You don't have to go to St. Louis to experience fine dining. Fond is the newest addition to the scene, but you can also find tasty treats at Neruda and Bella Milano.
10. Sense of community. The residents of Edwardsville take great pride in their parks, schools, SIUE, bike trails, shopping and entertainment. If you choose to make Edwardsville your next home, you'll find that you can have all of the big city amenities with a small town feel.
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About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a Realtor with the Just Ducky Homes team at Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.JustDuckyHomes.com or e-mail Kristina@JustDuckyHomes.com
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
