18 new businesses open in downtown Wheaton in 2023; more arriving this year

Brick-and-mortar retail is alive and well in downtown Wheaton, in addition to new restaurants, barbers, banks, and more.

Newly opened businesses include Maypole, Stitch Switch Men’s Consignment, Edge Financial Advisors, Lori Mesa Antiques & Fine Jewelry, Day Street Designs, Leah Phillips Interiors, Proof no. 5, Subourbon, The Main Antiquarian, Q Currys Indian Kitchen, Punch Barber Shop, TrustBank Wheaton, The Barber of Wheaton, WholeHealth Chicago, Vintage Charm, and more.

“We’re seeing an influx of locally-owned small businesses opening in Downtown Wheaton because that’s what is really working here — and it’s what our community wants,” said Allison Orr, executive director of the Downtown Wheaton Association.

“It’s so exciting to see Wheaton residents investing in themselves through entrepreneurship and then witnessing our community supporting and rewarding those efforts,” Orr added.

Elizabeth Di John is following this very model with her new shop Wildflower Mercantile, opening in March.

“I grew up in Wheaton,” Di John said. “Since starting our family of five eight years ago, we have called Wheaton our home.”

Di John’s path is well forged by successful Wheaton resident-owned stores such as Amante Marketplace and MION Artisan Soap, the latter of which recently expanded into a second location in St. Charles.

With many new businesses and a recently completed streetscape, interest in new ventures in Downtown Wheaton is high — and the business community agrees it’s Wheaton’s heart that plays a key role in this expansion.

As Di John puts it, “being able to connect into this beautiful community through a business of our own is truly a dream come true.”

There’s more to come as Downtown Wheaton welcomes new faces and honors exciting milestones in 2024. For more information on upcoming events, visit DowntownWheaton.com/events or follow the Downtown Wheaton Association on social media @DowntownWheaton.