On each episode of Area Code: Batavia, host Richard Clark explores the heart of Batavia, Illinois, and what it means to truly belong in Batavia, IL. Through one-on-one conversations with local small business owners, we uncover the essence of Batavia's community spirit.
Produced by Area Code Audio. Tune in every two weeks for new episodes.
Is Batavia Becoming a Ghost Town? (with Jamie Saam)
Just in time for spooky season, Batavia is facing one of the scariest prospects of all: the possibility of downtown businesses slowly dying.
These days, it's been hard to walk around downtown without being haunted by empty storefronts. There's no sugar-coating it: it's been a hard year for downtown businesses, and recent spate of closing announcements from Daddio's, Everdeens, Red Hive Market, and Beardsgaard, things are starting to feel pretty dire.
To get some perspective on this fear, we invited local business consultant and former MainStreet Batavia director Jamie Saam to join us. In a wide-ranging installment of our Neighborhood Watch segment, we discuss whether this news should truly trouble us or if this is simply part of the local life cycle of downtown. Then, we talk about the possible causes, and what local government, citizens, and business owners can do to keep things flourishing.
PLUS: Jamie sticks around for Batavia In Tune, a uniquely poetic Complaint of the Week, and then we leave you with a much-needed dose of hope with Good Energy.
Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link (https://www.speakpipe.com/ACBatavia)to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.
Subscribe to our newsletter (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/area-code-batavia) for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.
Join The 630 (https://patreon.com/acbatavia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:
Free access to quarterly live shows.
Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.
Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/area-code-batavia-sponsor).
For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here (https://www.patreon.com/c/acbatavia/membership).
Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/). It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.
14 Oct 2026
How Ward 2's Leah Leman Learned to Trust Her Gut
Most know Leah Leman as a co-owner of Limestone Coffee & Tea. But for six years, she's been balancing that with her role as alderperson for Ward 2, which Leah describes as Batavia's "introverted ward." And as a self-proclaimed introvert herself, Leah's a good fit.
So I wanted to know: how do you represented a part of Batavia that doesn't speak up very often? And what does her role as a downtown business owner bring to her time at city council?
On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, Leah Leman comes out of her shell long enough to talk to me about the inherent tensions involved in local politics, the inherent personality clashes in council meetings, and what it was like being the lone "No" vote on the data center.
PLUS: Richard and Alexa discuss the closing of Red Hive Market. Sad!
Listen to our very first episode - a conversation with Leah and Joy from Limestone Coffee & Tea. (https://area-code-batavia.captivate.fm/episode/limestone-coffee-and-tea-a-story-of-two-friends-and-a-huge-risk)
Red Hive Market Announces their closure
For 630 Members This Week: Richard and Alexa rank their top 5 favorite local Halloween decorations! (https://www.patreon.com/acbatavia/posts/batavia-insider-172362292/)
This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by 212° Construction Group (https://area-code-batavia.captivate.fm/212construction).
Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link (https://www.speakpipe.com/ACBatavia)to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.
Subscribe to our newsletter (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/area-code-batavia) for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.
Join The 630 (https://patreon.com/acbatavia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:
Free access to quarterly live shows.
Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.
Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/area-code-batavia-sponsor).
Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/). It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.
6 Oct 2026
What Gambling Costs Batavia (And TAP Talks Back)
This week, Alexa and Richard spend time talking about gambling in Batavia - how it helps small business - and how it hurts. Then, they revisit what has become quite the hot topic in Batavia: the proposed TAP Text A Physician service. Richard sits down with TAP Telehealth's VP of Business Development, Brian Davis to ask some of the questions on his mind.
PLUS: The debut of our brand new theme song, by Graham Swidenbank!
This Week:
Neighborhood Watch - Gambling in Batavia
Batavia In Tune (Brought to you by Rae of Sunshine Music)
Downstream - Revisiting TAP, with a conversation with TAP Telehealth's VP of Business Development
For more information on things discussed in this episode:
The House Always Wins: Inside Batavia’s $214 Million in Bets Since 2021 (https://batavia5thward.blog/2026/09/25/batavia-gambling-revenue/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAUqCtVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUPZ9Ine2YPUY0YNSfU-UVmjj-CFS4XNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5tsNwexW17VXuSu3xBIv2s8RxR3Ql6ULD6vlW_s4svPjI_aodWYzKwORPfmQ_aem_RA9spfEVSzM2Psh1dQ1DTQ)
City of Batavia TAP Information Page (https://www.bataviail.gov/page/tap-proposed-program-faq)
Listen to our previous discussion about TAP (https://area-code-batavia.captivate.fm/episode/no-one-was-asking-for-tap-is-it-a-good-idea-anyway)
Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link (https://www.speakpipe.com/ACBatavia)to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.
Subscribe to our newsletter (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/area-code-batavia) for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.
Join The 630 (https://patreon.com/acbatavia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:
Free access to quarterly live shows.
Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.
Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/area-code-batavia-sponsor).
Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio (https://www.areacodeaudio.com/). It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
71
Contact Area Code: Batavia
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