Visitors to Downtown Decatur this summer have probably noticed construction is under way for an expansion of the 74-year-old Del's Popcorn Shop.

Owner Lou Ann Jacobs has long wanted to add to the space the shop has at its original location and finally found the opportunity when the building next door became available.

She said the current 1,000-square-foot space will not change. The new building will provide more room to display Del's products and show what can be done with its gifts, Jacobs said.

The remodeling, which started in the past month, will help Del's expand its product line, Jacobs said.

But she would not say what exactly the remodeling will look like when it's finished.

"It's all going to be top secret until we get it done," Jacobs said.

Jacobs hopes to be able to show off the expansion by the beginning of September, when construction is scheduled to be completed. That should come just in time for the shop to add five workers as business picks up in the fall, selling caramel apples and following that for the holidays.

The current shop is located at 142 Merchant St., with the new building next door at 138 Merchant.

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Exclusive Limousine LLC has picked up its last passenger.

The Forsyth-based limousine business, run by husband-and-wife team Jeffrey and Nathalie Larner, closed after a 2½-year run. The Larners said business was good, and they didn't retire their stretch limo Town Car, getting about eight miles to the gallon, because of rising fuel costs.

Jeffrey Larner said it was more a case of picking up a full-time passenger who demands a lot of attention.

"We recently had a baby - Sean, 6 months old now - and it became an issue of time, more than anything. We needed to be able to focus on our family," he explained.

The parents have full-time jobs, too, with Jeffrey Larner working in corporate security management for Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Nathalie as a flight attendant for American Airlines.

"Making time for everything is the dilemma we had," he said.

The Larners said they enjoyed the work with Exclusive Limousine, which handled a lot of weddings and special occasions, and they will miss it.

"We met some fantastic clients and customers and made a lot of good friends," Jeffrey Larner said.

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Curly's Sports Bar and Grill in Decatur has a new owner.

Bill Miller, who previously ran an Allstate insurance agency in Brettwood Village, retired and decided to buy the bar across from St. Teresa High School at 2683 N. Water St. just over a month ago.

"He's always liked coming here, and the opportunity kind of came about to buy it," said Miller's son, Jason, who has helped with the transition.

Jason Miller said they're trying to revamp the outside seating area to make it more smoker-friendly and have music inside and out.

The business is open 2:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and closed Sundays.

Call 875-9800 for more information.

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Monical's fans can help Macon County Court Appointed Special Advocates by picking up a flier at their offices and eating at any Decatur-area location anytime Tuesday, July 22. Twenty percent of the proceeds will support the volunteer advocates, who represent the interests of abused and neglected children.

Their offices are at 140 S. Water St., Suite 100. For more information, call 428-8424.