Bait-riarch: The woman who hooked Aurora

• During this interview, Maddox paused to order leeches — business as usual.

Zoom in: "My mom always called this place her living room," Maddox tells Axios.

• "My parents weren't rich, but they had an Army barracks they moved here, and we lived in that — and then my mom saved money and built this business."

Her father, Walter Staack, farmed 40 acres near East Quincy Avenue and South Parker Road — across from the Aurora shop.

The big picture: Maddox and her siblings must decide what to do with the business.

• Their mother's will mandates that they sell it within 30 years of her death. She died nearly 21 years ago.

"I guess Mom wanted us to enjoy our lives."

What's next: The shop could change hands within five years.

• In the interim, Maddox says, "This is my little corner of the world, and I love it."

🤨 Proust Questionnaire ⁉️

The trait you most deplore in others: "Bad manners. If you cuss in here, you owe my tip jar a dollar."

The quality you most like in a woman: "Independence."

📍 I'm profiling our neighbors one street at a time. If you know someone interesting, drop me a line at [email protected]. 🎣