Fall officially started Tuesday, but the change in the landscape’s not the only thing going on in downtown Naperville.
Lennon’s out; new businesses in
Lennon’s at 16 W. Jefferson Ave. abruptly closed its doors this week after being open for only a year, the restaurant announced on social media.
“This is not the goodbye we hoped to have, but we are deeply thankful for the time we were given and for every person who was part of the Lennon’s story,” the business wrote.
Lennon’s opened in August of last year with a mixed dining and entertainment concept. The idea behind the business was for patrons to “come and stay” by enjoying different aspects of what they had to offer, owner Jeremy Stolberg previously said.
Stolberg did not respond to a request for comment. Downtown Naperville Alliance Executive Director Dawn Portner said no reason was given for the closure.
It is not the first time a business at that location has shut down after a short period of time.
Prior to Lennon’s, the space was occupied by AltaVida, a Latin-inspired entertainment complex that also offered a casual Spanish cafe. AltaVida closed its doors after less than a year of operation.
But while Naperville says goodbye to Lennon’s, a new restaurant just across the street at 15 W. Jefferson Ave. plans to open this fall.
Taco Grill Cantina is bringing a modern take on Mexican cuisine to downtown Naperville, which will include everything from bone marrow and pork belly tacos to salmon with mole sauce, according to a news release. The restaurant will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Owner Jose Oliver, who is also behind Westmont’s Taco Grill and Salsa Bar, had hoped to open on Sept. 15 but was forced to push the date back due to unforeseen issues, he said.
Other fall openings on the horizon include SEE Eyewear, I Heart Gyro and State & Liberty Clothing Co.
SEE, which offers prescription glasses and sunglasses, hopes to open its new store at 214 S. Main St. in mid-October, a company representative confirmed. Naperville will be the fifth location for the boutique eyewear store, which has one shop in Skokie and three in Chicago.
I Heart Gyro will be moving in at 22 E. Chicago Ave., taking over a spot previously held by another gyro store.
Khalil Faykov opened the first I Heart Gyro store in Vancouver, Washington, about 10 years ago and the restaurant has been a hit ever since. He recently moved to Aurora to be closer to family in the Chicago area and knew he wanted to bring his fast, casual restaurant to the suburbs.
“It’s a very vibrant area of Naperville,” Faykov said. “Hopefully this will become the spot for gyros in the area.”
As for an anticipated start date, Faykov wants to open his restaurant in the next two weeks, noting that he is wrapping up some last steps with the city.
Men’s retailer State & Liberty will be moving into the space formerly occupied by Amber Waves Art of Hair Salon at 144 W. Jefferson Ave., the company’s Chief Operating Officer Jake Allain confirmed in an email.
State & Liberty specializes in clothes with an athletic fit, meaning that it is made to fit broader shoulders and developed glutes and thighs while still giving a tailored look. The brand sells everything from suits and blazers to hoodies and quarter fits. There are more than 50 locations across the country, including one in Chicago.
For the Naperville store, the company is targeting a mid- to late-November opening.
Lola’s Handcrafted Churros at 8 W. Jefferson Ave. will host its grand opening on Monday, the business announced on social media. Naperville marks the third location for the business, which is known for their churro sundaes.
Other businesses also on the horizon for downtown Naperville are Deep Purpl Acai Bowls, Lizzano Foccacia & Spritzeria and Slyce NY, Portner said.
Block 59/Westridge Court
More development is progressing at Naperville’s Block 59 dining and entertainment complex.
Construction started Monday on two new buildings that will bring in a total of five restaurants to Block 59, according to Rich Dippolito, vice president of re/development for Brixmor Property Group.
One of those restaurants is Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, which recently opened its first Illinois location in Chicago. Dippolito declined to share the names of the other restaurants joining the lineup.
Each building will have about 11,000 square feet, with construction on one building set to wrap up in May and the other in June. Each restaurant will do their own buildout, which will take anywhere from four to six months.
As Westridge Court gears up to welcome a new home goods store to its shopping center, some of the plaza’s other retailers are moving to new locations.
The former Ulta Beauty and the Discovery Clothing Co. are to be torn down to make way for a 97,000-square-foot building that will host the new home goods store, which Dippolito declined to name.
Discovery Clothing will relocate to 576 S. Route 59, while Ulta has already opened in its new space at 220 S. Route 59.
The discount activewear and sporting goods store Going, Going, Gone! will be moving just around the corner to the location formerly occupied by Painted Tree Boutiques to help make way for the new retailer. That store closed temporarily Sept. 13 and plans to reopen Oct. 14.
