The year 2021 was a very good one for commercial and retail growth in Naperville, with dozens of new restaurants and stores opening their doors all over town. But it was a heartbreaker for others, particularly those that reached the end of the road after decades in business.
It was the year in which a second Costco store opened, robotic chefs arrived and anyone with a sweet tooth was made very happy with a half dozen new bakeries and ice cream shops to check out.
But the community said goodbye to places like Jimmy’s Grill, a downtown staple for 28 years, and Dog Patch Pet and Feed, done in by the pandemic and shifting shopping habits after 49 years.
Still, moss never grows for long on the rolling stone that is the Naperville business scene, and there’s already plenty to look forward to as we celebrate the first day of 2022.
The city’s second Amazon Fresh store is just about ready to launch at 1351 Ogden Ave. as part of the Shops on Naperville strip mall, which also has signed leases with two medical offices and a new restaurant, First Watch. The Florida-based chain specializes in breakfast, lunch, brunch and specialty alcoholic drinks, including its signature Cinnamon Toast Cereal Milk, made with coconut rum.
When Go Brewing opens sometime later this year in the 2 Fools Cider location at 1665 Quincy Ave. (2 Fools is moving to1864 High Grove Lane), it will be Illinois’ first nonalcoholic/low alcohol craft brewery and taproom.
Also watch for La-Z-Boy, Smashburger and Pizza Twist to open on Route 59 as well as PappaRoti, an international coffee shop chain based in Malaysia making its first foray into the U.S. market. Its coffee buns have developed something a cult following, according to restaurant experts.
Downtown, there will be another ice cream-related business joining the number that are already there. Jojo’s ShakeBAR is soon to open at 5 Jackson Ave. The company has two other locations, both in Chicago.
When Jimmy’s Grill closed, the Empire Restaurant Group announced it would be taking over and expanding its downtown location at 245 S Washington St. Initially, Bev’s — described as a “pop-up” restaurant serving upscale comfort food — will fill a portion of the building while construction on a much larger restaurant called Cali’s is done around it.
Cali’s is to open sometime in 2022, serving steak and seafood. One of its unique features will be a rooftop patio.
Less than a block away, at 22 E. Chicago Ave., Zade’s Lounge will be opening in the former Bar Louie location. It’s a new venture for the Francesca’s Restaurant Group, which already has four restaurants/bars in Naperville — two Francesca’s, Fat Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar, and Vasili’s.
Here’s an overview of some of what Naperville gained and lost in 2021:
Newcomers
Costco opened a 159,000-square-foot store at 1255 E. Ogden Ave. this summer, making Naperville one of the few towns in Illinois to have more than one location.
Nike opened its first Live concept store — Nike by Naperville — this fall at 217 Main St., where the Talbots store had been located. The company is taking a new approach to retail, selling items selectively chosen for Naperville area shoppers based on market research as the company returns to a more exclusive merchandising approach.
Dick’s Sporting Goods also introduced its new retail concept to the area with the opening of a Warehouse Sale outlet store at 204 S. Route 59.
Naperville has become a go-to location for businesses making their first move outside of Chicago or first in Illinois.
That was true for Dave’s Hot Chicken; Crumbl Cookies; Currito, specializing in grain bowls, salads and fruit smoothies; La Borra Cafe, a Mexican chain; Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea; Xi’an Cuisine; and Café Cebu, a Filipino bakery.
Starbucks chose Naperville for one its exclusive Starbucks Reserve stores, which opened this year at 203 S. Main St.
Described by the company as serving “the rarest, most extraordinary coffees Starbucks has to offer” based on a system of experimentation in which there is “a unique roast for each individual lot,” there are just 19 in the U.S. in addition to stores in Canada, Tokyo, Chile and Mexico.
The Mall of India at 776 Route 59 introduced a new kitchen concept to the city this year by employing robotic chefs programmed to produce dozens of different types of dishes served at its food court restaurants One Mean Chicken, Surya Tiffins and Thai76.
Just as a human chef would, the robots have access to refrigerated and dry ingredients and various broths and liquids, which they mix and then cook using stoves and ovens. Some experts see it as the way of the future, especially since robot chefs — unlike their human counterparts — don’t get tired.
New on the list of breakfast places, bakeries and ice cream shops were Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at 218 S. Main St., Ben & Jerry’s at 120 Water St., Stacks at 844 Route 59, Sugar Milk Cafe at 1250 W. Ogden Ave. and Fiene’s Bakery at 1603 North Aurora Road.
New entries on the retail scene included Tinker A Children’s Boutique and Andrew’s Garden, both downtown, and Painted Tree Boutique on Route 59, which offers space for dozens of vendors to sell their wares in small booths all under one roof.
Closures
Braconi’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, 796 Royal St. George Drive, closed in October after 16 years.
Harry W. Yaseen Jewelers, 226 S. Washington St. Owner Larry Yaseen will retire in 2022 after being in Naperville for 18 years. The business started 1910, when his grandfather opened a store in Chicago Heights.
Dog Patch Pet and Feed, 1108 E. Ogden Ave., closed in August after 49 years.
Li’l Deb-n-Heir children’s furniture store, 540 E. Ogden Ave., closed in December after many years in Naperville. The business dates back to 1947.
Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, 9 Jackson Ave., will close their downtown Naperville stores in 2022.
Moves
Schmaltz Deli, 1512 N. Naper Blvd., is closing its Naperville deli after 16 years so it can relocate to a much larger, free-standing building with a drive-thru in 2022.
Texas Roadhouse, 2856 Patriot’s Lane, is closing its Naperville restaurant so it can relocate to a new location on Route 59 in Aurora.
raguerrero@tribpub.com
