In case you haven’t visited downtown recently, there are a lot of new things to see. Aurora is growing, and downtown is shining brightly with new residential and more than a dozen businesses that opened this year. See what’s new in downtown Aurora:
• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Boulevard, is a cocktail lounge and art gallery. It might be new, but it feels like it’s been there forever. The electic mix of furniture and painted gold ceiling give the spot a warm and welcoming vibe. The cocktails are delightful, and there are beer and wine options as well as charcuterie. On Wednesdays during the Broadway season, French 75 is a partner with Mora Asian Fusion for lunch and dinner.
• The Yetee opened up Superjumbo Retro Toy Store at 102 E. Galena Boulevard, a vintage toy shop that just happens to be hip and trendy. From nostalgic finds such as ALF pins to a small rear gallery that is host to pop-up art shows, Superjumbo brings a fun twist to a retro toy store.
• For the first time, downtown Aurora has an arcade. Not only are we excited about Yetee Station at 11 N. Broadway, but it’s an admission-based arcade, so you can pay $15 and play all day. You can eat dinner, and come back to play some more. It’s perfect for all ages with a variety of games including pinball machines and vintage goodies such as Q*bert.
• From a food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Chupacabra Puerto Rican Kitchen at 31 N. Broadway is a welcome addition to Broadway. It’s quickly become a favorite with the dedication and passion of owners Maria and Peter behind every order. Delicious recipes and family tradition are found in large quanitities here.
• Six Thirty are the new media kids on the block at 30 N. Broadway, and they are making a name for themselves by working with musicians from California and elsewhere. They say the brand is built on hip hop and youth culture. Six Thirty offers a retail line of urban apparel and does work in photography, music production, and visual entertainment.
• Sammy Wammy Floral is a full-service floral shop at 40 E. New York Street that creates floral arrangements for any occasion. They offer same-day floral delivery. The shop sells creative baskets for gift-giving, such as the Health C Basket that’s perfect for a friend on the mend.
• Latrice Murphy relocated her studio from Broadway to River Street. Now boasting a larger space, Latrice Murphy Design and Photography offers multiple backdrops, a dressing room, and wardrobe at 62 S. River Street.
• Sweet photos are being snapped in a fairyland inside of a Broadway storefront. Enchanted Fairies offers a magical photo experience for children. Photos can be booked online and visit them at 10 N. Broadway.
• Vincenzo Valenziano’s vibrant photography gallery, Seven Setting Suns Art Gallery, is bright and vivid. Seven Setting Suns is filled with Valenziano’s colorful works at 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12 in the historic Metropolitan Business College building.
• A free drop-in center for teens, Alive Teen Center provides after-school programming and clubs as well as Summer activities for teens, 6th to 12th grades at 76 S. LaSalle Street.
• Centro Botanico, a new Downer Place storefront, is open with vitamins and wellness supplements. Shoppers can find natural products, too. Call ahead for hours.
• BCool Homes is the office for Real Estate agent Bryan Cool. Cool set up shop at the corner of New York Street and Broadway, 36 N. Broadway.
• Keystone Historic Apartments, 30 S. Stolp Avenue offers much-needed residential growth downtown. The historic four-story Keystone building is leasing one-bedroom lofts after undergoing an extensive renovation. The lofts are at the center of the arts and culture district. Developer Urban Equity Properties of Rockford will finish more residential units in the New Year at the Terminal Building at Galena Boulevard and Broadway.
Additional residential will be available once The Hobbs renovation is complete at Galena Boulevard and River Street.
In the New Year, look for The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange and Wyckwood House to both open at their new locations on River Street in downtown Aurora. Obsidian Clothing and Aroma Roots are on schedule to launch a soft opening prior to the New Year at 32 N. Broadway.
The newly-renovated Copley Theatre will launch Paramount’s BOLD Series in March 2022 with “Sweat,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lynn Nottage.
• Stolp Island Social at 5 E. Galena Boulevard is back open to feed the theater crowd after an extended closure due to the pandemic.
With so many new things to enjoy downtown, the New Year is looking good.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. See what’s new in downtown Aurora with more than a dozen new businesses open in 2021. auroradowntown.org.