Vuori store to replace Eddie Bauer in downtown Naperville; Steakhouse taking over Catch 35

Living up to its name, the Empire Restaurant Group is growing again.

The Cullen family’s flagship restaurant has become synonymous with downtown Naperville nightlife, serving up towering, Angus beef burgers, live music, a retractable rooftop deck and views of the DuPage River.

Now, the culinary minds behind Empire Burgers + Brew plan to open The Belmont, a steakhouse expected to take over the high-profile space that previously housed Catch 35, a seafood restaurant that closed last year at the Washington Street gateway into downtown.

It’s among the latest dining and retail developments in the downtown.

A “very strong brand” — Vuori — is slated to replace Eddie Bauer in the Main Place complex, property owner Steve Rubin said.

Eddie Bauer opted to shut its doors amid other store closings reported across the country. The purveyor of flannel and outdoor gear had been a fixture in downtown Naperville.

The hope was that the retailer would renew its lease for the storefront on Jefferson Avenue, Rubin said. He emphasized it was Eddie Bauer’s decision not to. That paved the way for a new, “soft goods” retailer.

Vuori brings men and women’s activewear — the joggers are supremely comfortable — and California vibes to the downtown mix. Rubin anticipates the store opening in about three months.

“We expect them to have great success,” he said.

Also on the horizon: Lilly Pulitzer, whose signature shift dresses, a summer staple worn by the likes of Jackie O, come in every kind of tropical and preppy print under the Palm Beach sun. A new boutique will be part of a line of upscale shops at the edge of the downtown core.

The Lilly store will be opening by spring in the Main Street Promenade, Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, confirmed via email Wednesday. Lilly will join the Kendra Scott jewelry shop, Sur La Table, a J. Jill store and Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House in the promenade.

The city council last year approved a variance allowing Barry’s, formerly known as Barry's Bootcamp, to occupy a first-floor spot within the Main Street Promenade East building, home to the adjacent Evereve boutique and nearby Lululemon. A fact sheet from the Kite Realty Group indicates a fitness concept is “coming soon” to a roughly 4,300-square-foot space.

With its vibrant, French-inspired pastries, Le Macaron also is expected to open by the first half of 2026 and “will surely add to the sweetness of our downtown,” Wood noted.