“Alton is hungry for good things.” Alton’s Dee Gehrs made this statement recently, and she and her husband, Steve, have just added their new restaurant to the list of options where diners can quench their appetites. Nicky G’s Italian Eats, 1801 State St., is in a century-old building that once housed establishments such as Velloff’s Power Equipment and Nationwide Grocery Store. The choice of where to dish out their homemade Italian cuisine did not come easy to this couple.

“This location just really spoke to us,” Dee said. “It took us four years to find, and decide upon, the right spot. We had shopped several others as well.” Being part of the preservation of Alton’s history was important to the Gehrs, as was a “retro kind of vibe.” Although renovations would be expansive, the location’s asking price was right. A city-provided statistic of 6,500 passersby each day also helped seal the deal.