Downtown Naperville gets three new businesses
Fall is bringing fresh shopping opportunities to downtown Naperville with the recent openings of three businesses and more to come in the Main Street Promenade East development.
DavidsTea, EverEve and J. Crew are the first three shops to open in the retail area built on the western edge of the Van Buren parking deck. The $30 million, 51,000-square-foot Promenade East is the second phase of shopping to be built at Main Street and Van Buren Avenue by Naperville developer BBM Inc.
“People seem to like the building and people seem to be happy with the stores so far,” said Ruth Yackley with BBM Inc. “The fall is always a good time because the holiday shopping season is coming.”
DavidsTea, which sells tea drinks, packaged tea and accessories, opened first on Aug. 16.
“Naperville has been so welcoming of us,” said Tiffany A. Smith, assistant manager of DavidsTea's Naperville cafe. “Many people from Naperville have never heard of us before, so it's been a really nice experience to introduce ourselves to the town.”
EverEve, a clothing store for mothers formerly called Hot Mama, moved from a smaller storefront in the original Main Street Promenade development on Van Buren Avenue and opened along Main Street Aug. 20. J. Crew opened Sept. 10 and quickly got involved in the community by hosting a fundraiser night for the Naperville nonprofit KidsMatter, said Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance.
“Although they're a national chain, these national stores really do get it, and they're trying to become really more part of the community,” Wood said.
Above the first-floor retail spaces in the Promenade East is a Regus business center, which is open and leasing office space to businesses that want to take advantage of a shared receptionist, kitchen and conference room.
Stores scheduled to open soon in the new development include Anthropologie, which Wood said is targeting an Oct. 3 opening day, Frost Gelato and Michael Graham Salon & Spa. The gelato shop and spa both aim to open in early October.
“We already have great appeal with our many shops, but these are just strong anchor stores that really bring people in from near and far,” Wood said about the latest additions.
Elsewhere in downtown Naperville, Sephora opened recently at 132 W. Jefferson Ave., Naf Naf Grill opened at 22 E. Chicago Ave., and Coldwater Creek the Spa was renamed ME Spa and continues operating on the second floor at 55 S. Main St.
Other new shops in the downtown's future include Athleta, Banana Republic and J. Jill. Athleta and Banana Republic will be located along Washington Street just south of Van Buren Avenue, while J. Jill will reopen a few doors west of its previous location at the corner of Van Buren Avenue and Webster Street in the original Main Street Promenade.
“It's so wonderful to have these many new offerings in our downtown,” Wood said.
New in Naperville
Several shops recently have opened in downtown Naperville, including three in the Main Street Promenade East development. Six more openings are planned soon.
Already open
• DavidsTea, EverEve and J. Crew, Main Street Promenade East at 50 S. Main St.
• Sephora, 132 W. Jefferson Ave.
• ME Spa, 55 S. Main St., second floor
• Naf Naf Grill, 22 E. Chicago Ave.
Opening soon
• Anthropologie, Frost Gelato and Michael Graham Salon & Spa, Main Street Promenade East at 50 S. Main St.
• J. Jill, 55 S. Main St. near the corner of Webster Street and Van Buren Avenue
• Athleta and Banana Republic on Washington Street south of Van Buren Avenue