Aurora's 'Restaurant Row' shrinks with Comfort Zone closing

One of four eateries that puts the “restaurant” in downtown Aurora's “Restaurant Row” will close Dec. 3.

And while the line of New York Street restaurants may be a bit sparse once The Comfort Zone Bar-B-Que restaurant serves its last meal, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said a downtown dining district still is on its way to taking shape.

“We're kind of just reforming a group and trying to move forward,” Weisner said about restaurant row plans.

About a year ago, things were going fine for Comfort Zone owner and chef Richard Green of Aurora.

His business was established after a year in the City of Lights, and he was planning to add a jazz and blues room to host live performances next to his eatery.

But expansion plans fell through and Green said restaurant row has not brought as many customers as he needs.

“Quite frankly, we ran out of money,” Green said. “The capital just dwindled down and there wasn't enough business coming in.”

The Comfort Zone moved to 37 W. New York St., in Aurora in 2009 after three years in Oswego, Green said. It built a following, but Green admits, “I don't expect everyone to want to eat barbecue every day.”

Restaurant row plans originally included adding two new restaurants and an outdoor plaza to the core of The Comfort Zone, Ballydoyle Irish Pub at 28 and 42 New York St., Chef Amaury's at 33 W. New York St. and La Quinta de los Reyes at 36 E. New York St.

Developer Steve Arwady and a group of investors were promised $1.25 million from the city to help create the dining district, and so far, $500,000 has been paid out, said Bill Wiet, Aurora's development director.

Arwady did not return a call seeking comment.

Talks have fallen through with one of the planned restaurants, a second location of Luigi's Pizza at 732 Prairie St. in Aurora, but plans still are in the works for a possible Billy Goat Tavern, Wiet and Weisner said.

Alderman Juany Garza, whose ward includes New York street downtown, said she sees The Comfort Zone's closing as a reflection of the slumping economy as a whole, not of poor conditions on Aurora's restaurant row.

“If the economy was fine, I think the more restaurants we have on the row, the better to have more diversity of restaurants,” Garza said.

But these days, Garza said her family, and others she knows, rarely go out to eat. She said such decisions make it tough for family-owned businesses like The Comfort Zone to afford rent and payroll.

“I once had a staff of 15 and it dwindled down to four because it got so bad,” Green said.

Alderman Rick Lawrence said he has doubted the restaurant row developers for some time, and last month suggested the city council be more careful when giving funds to developers.

He said in an email to aldermen the plan originally “showed some promise but since appears to be dying, if not dead already.”

Green said he thinks his business would have benefited if more restaurants or bars attracted people.

He's unsure of the future of his barbecue creations, but said he's looking for a job or a partner to try to carry on what he started with The Comfort Zone.

“We really appreciated the opportunity for being down here as much as we have been,” Green said. “We wish we could have been here for the long haul.”