Welcoming new businesses and entrepreneurs to Aurora is essential and, frankly, something that should happen routinely. To that end, there’s a bit of soul emerging in the Aurora downtown business district, and it’s brought to us by an inspiring, innovative, black female whose veteran-owned company, The Cotton Seed Creative, is
Open air concerts, movies under the stars, outdoor dining. Ah, the glories of Summer. In downtown Aurora, we’re lucky to enjoy river views and blooming rain gardens, too. This Summer, Aurora Downtown’s outdoor movie series returned with two movie selections at two locations in June, July, and August. The series
Volunteers at Culture Stock used book store and community center in Aurora, pose for a grand reopening celebration photo Saturday, July 16, at 122 W. Downer Place in Aurora.
Bill Poss of Aurora shows items he will present at an auction at his Luigi’s Pizza and Fun Center, 732 Prairie Street in Aurora, July 26-27.
By Al Benson After 41 years, William “Bill” Poss of Aurora closed his Aurora restaurant for the last time Sunday, June 26. Poss, owner of Luigi’s Pizza and Fun Center in Aurora, closed his business–a pizza/pasta restaurant with bar, game room, laser tag arena ,and Sunday church service site–due to
Once upon a time, in Aurora, Ill., there were no shopping centers, strip malls, or whatever one wanted to call them. Aurorans shopped mostly downtown at local retail outlets. There were, of course, local branches of national business entities, such as, Woolworth, Kroger, and Rexall Drugs, to name a few
Sometimes, everything someone touches turns to gold. Luckily, for Shannon Gutierrez gold happens to be her favorite color. Gutierrez is the owner of Wyckwood House, which is now open in the renovated, former School District 129 offices at 80 S. River Street in downtown Aurora. Gutierrez, of Aurora, rewrote the
Batavia Chamber of Commerce members happily celebrate the newly-renovated annex of the Batavia Chamber with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 23.
Dreams came true for two millennial Latinos when they cut the ribbons for their new businesses in Aurora. Edwin Arroyo was brought to tears when he spoke during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new barbershop on Aurora’s West Side. The Zero Barbershop, 620 West Park Avenue, is a hard-earned accomplishment
By Allison Erdman Gregoire Friday, March 18, natural gas utility providers across the country celebrated “Natural Gas Utility Worker’s Day” to recognize the hard work and dedication of those who work in the industry. Nicor Gas serves 2.2 million customers daily to provide the clean, safe, and reliable service they
Amy Morton, owner and operator of Stolp Island Social in Aurora, grew up in the industry and worked alongside her father, legendary restaurateur Arnie Morton of Morton’s Steakhouse. Morton learned the business from the ground up, working nearly every position from a server to director of recruitment and training. After
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce, Batavia MainStreet and the city of Batavia government will be hosts to Batavia’s 11th annual Restaurant Madness promotion, Sunday through Thursday, March 20-24. “We are encouraging everyone to visit the variety of great restaurants located within Batavia,” said Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of the
There’s nothing such as a global pandemic to make working folks examine how they feel about their employment position. Some took this opportunity to leave the workforce and start new business ventures, their passion, Many others were forced to find work for themselves due to layoffs. In 2021, the Census
Last month, I wrote about a full year’s lineup of downtown events. This month, I will give details of all the new and fun things to do and places to visit on a regular basis in downtown Aurora. Oftentimes, we fall back on our usual routines and favorite spots instead
Last of two parts The first part is at thevoice.us/traditional-hemp-economies-a-revival-for-native-peoples Here is a post-petroleum transition plan: Winona LaDuke writes the following article for YES Magazine: Tribes revive traditional hemp economies: “For the past five years, I’ve been a hemp farmer, with permits from the state government of Minnesota. My business
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce, along with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, celebrate the opening of Rookies All-American Pub & Grill in the Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Jan. 20.
In March 2020, the Reich Brothers of White Plains, N. Y., purchased the four-million-square foot former Caterpillar plant in Montgomery. After the almost 70-million-dollar deal closed, Reich Brothers began to petition the Village for annexation to bring the property into the Montgomery Village limits. January 10, the Village Board unanimously
Mike Gould, fourth from left, founder and owner of Hounds Town USA, gives a thumbs up after Aurora mayor Richard Irvin cuts a ribbon for Hounds Town Aurora, a doggie daycare facility, at a grand opening Saturday, Jan.15.
Fox Valley Park District holds a celebratory groundbreaking Friday, Jan. 14, for a $2.3 million, 4,500 square-foot outdoor education and event facility at Lippold Park, adjacent to Red Oak Nature Center along Route 25 at the south end of Batavia.
Aurora is growing, and downtown is shining bright with new residential and more than a dozen businesses that opened in 2021. There are a lot of new things to see in downtown Aurora. Aurora Downtown, the nonprofit organization that oversees downtown’s Special Service Area, reported the following new business openings
