There was a time not too long ago that many amazing businesses didn’t exist downtown Aurora, and artists beautified the windows and started pop ups and festivals. It’s nice to see so many businesses here now and investing in downtown Aurora. It’s really mind-blowing when you think about it.
In the last decade, more than 50 businesses have opened and stayed open, including the following:
Endiro Coffee
Tredwell Coffee
All Spoked Up
Offbeat Thrift & Vintage
Wyckwood House
Society 57
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange
Charlie’s Creamery
Gillerson’s Grubbery
Chupacabra Puerto Rican Kitchen
Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social
Craft Urban Aurora
Aroma Roots Natural Bath & Body
Latrice Murphy Design and Photography
1881 electric cycle company
French 75 Gallery and Lounge
Tavern On Broadway
The Venue
Aurora Tap House
Crystal House
Simply Destinee Youth Center
Culture Stock
The Perch
Alice’s Corner
Pure Skin Solutions
Do or Dye Designs
Good News Barber Shop
Kathryn’s Place
Gracie G Photography
Altiro Latin Fusion
McCarty Mills Taproom
Renew Salon & Spa
Gary Brown Art
I of the Angeles
Hairy Beast Dog Pawlour
Gentleman’s Parlour
Sammy Wammy Floral
Yetee Station Arcade
Superjumbo
Undisputed Vintage
Warehouse 55
Blissful Blooms
Patron Boots
Happy Daze
The Cornucopia Shop
Zen Loft Wellness Center, AKA Dance, Big Boss Barbershop, and La France Bakery opened within the last decade, or so.
If These Walls Could Talk has been on Stolp Avenue for 10 or more years.
Paramount Theatre came back in a big way approximately 10 years ago. Copley Theatre was recently revamped for the BOLD Series.
The ArtBar happened 10 years ago and then First Fridays. Before that, Alley Art Festival, and before that, Aurora ArtWalk, and before that, Aurora Art League of IL. Alley Art Festival will celebrate 12 years Saturday, Aug. 27.
September 2 at First Fridays, longtime volunteer curator of The ArtBar, Javi Terrazas, will be celebrated at The ArtBar’s Viking Funeral show. Terrazas retired after a decade curating and organizing the show, which was started by artist Lisa Gloria.
Thanks to Terrazas and artists for helping to grow downtown Aurora.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. Stop at the 12th annual Alley Art Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Follow Aurora Downtown on Facebook and @downtownaurora on Instagram. aurora
downtown.org.