John Damarin came across the building that houses his new sporting goods store by chance.

It adjoins undeveloped land he purchased and turned into a soccer complex for his fledgling Braves Soccer Club.

He initially planned to use the former Jackson New Car Alternatives building adjacent to the fields to store his growing supply of soccer equipment and its large, paved lot as a place for soccergoers to park.

But after a year of watching the flow of traffic along Illinois 121, he envisioned greater things.

"I think it will add something to the community and fill a need," Damarin said of his store, Damarin Sports Outfitters, which offers equipment and uniforms for a variety of sports.

Damarin views commuters from surrounding towns who travel through Mount Zion daily as prime targets for his goods.

The former shop area is home to the Strike Zone. It includes two batting cages and video equipment that will help athletes analyze their swing and improve their technique. There also is a baseball and softball training academy led by Josh Manning, coach of the Millikin University baseball team.

An open house is set for Saturday, Feb. 23.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, go to www.damarinsports.

com or call 864-4300.

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Two Central Illinois banks have reached an agreement of acquisition and merger. Buena Vista Bancorp Inc. plans to acquire BW Bancshares Inc., resulting in Bank of Warrensburg becoming a part of Buena Vista National Bank.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approval.

"We believe this merger will be in the long-term best interest of Bank of Warrensburg's customers and the Warrensburg community," said Paul Pogue, president of BW Bancshares.

Allen Kaisor, Buena Vista National Bank president and CEO, added the bank emphasizes customer service and community involvement. "Our customers enjoy up-to-date banking products, such as Internet and telephone banking, and we offer a wide array of business solutions," he said.

Kaisor said the merger, if approved, could be completed sometime this summer.

Buena Vista National Bank, which is based in Chester, has assets of more than $100 million. It has four locations, including one in Decatur at the corner of Mound Road and Woodford Street.

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Construction is under way on a new retirement community that is expected to open this fall in Decatur.

A 76-unit independent and assisted-living complex, run by Primrose Retirement Communities will be built in the multimillion-dollar project, said Michael O'Keefe, the company's director of marketing.

The community is being built on 15 acres at 1145 West Arbor Drive. The complex will consist of six townhome villas, 36 independent living apartments and 32 assisted living apartments with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units.

Public areas will include a wellness center, pub and billiards/

game room, devotional chapel, library, movie theater, 1950s style ice cream parlor and outdoor gazebo.

The company expects to employ about 20 people with a payroll exceeding $550,000.

For more information, go to www.primroseretirement.com.

On Biz, published Fridays in the Herald

& Review, highlights business developments. Contact Tony Reid at treid@

herald-review.com or 421-7977 or Chris Lusvardi at clusvardi@herald-review.com or 421-7972. Scott Perry contributed to this column.