This year, shopping local could be easier than ever. Not only can shoppers visit dozens of stores, but online shopping is plentiful at both retail and resale stores in downtown Aurora.
With holiday shopping starting early this year, it’s a great time to revisit the power of the dollar and how supporting community businesses can have a direct impact on our economy.
In downtown Aurora, supporting businesses contributes to a healthy and vibrant downtown.
In the last few years, new shops have added to cherished mom-and-pop businesses such as Wardell Art Glass, 28 S. Stolp Avenue, and downtown is once again a burgeoning shopping destination.
Warehouse 55 will bring mid-century modern furniture and thousands of antique items to its two floors at 55 S. Lake Street and will be host to Holiday Market in the upcoming weekend. On the second floor, Blissful Blooms will sell fresh floral bouquets and plants.
Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, is filled with curated gift items such as fair trade kitchen towels and cocktail mixes, as well as boutique women’s clothing. It’s a retro paradise at its lower-level Offbeat Thrift and Vintage shop.
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 8 N. Broadway, will feature nearly a dozen artisans who offer clever, handcrafted signs, unique coasters, fun home decor, and vintage albums. Down the street, Patron Boots is filled with leather boots and men’s wear. There are more than a dozen shops and salons to visit along Broadway.
Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake Street, will have houseplants and stocking stuffers. The store is filled with eclectic and bohemian gift items.
For personalized gifts such as a framed family photo, If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, can help. Skin and hair products can be purchased at neighboring locations, Pure Skin Solutions and Do or Dye Designs, respectively.
Crystal House, 59 S. LaSalle Street, will have special, etched glass keepsakes.
Both Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, and SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton Street, will have their gift shops open for holiday shopping.
Hope Chest, 36 N. Lincoln Avenue, has resale clothing, jewelry, and furniture.
One of the newest businesses to join downtown is My Daughter’s Dress, 221 E. Galena Boulevard. The resale shop boasts new formal wear at a fraction of the cost, and is a nonprofit organization.
It’s possible that downtown Aurora hasn’t offered as many choices for holiday shoppers since the last major department store left downtown in 1981.
Luckily, online shopping and curbside pickup can support most of these businesses.
For more about shopping local and online in downtown Aurora, visit auroradowntown.org.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a nonprofit organization of business and property owners committed to a healthy and thriving downtown for all to enjoy. Please enjoy Sugar Skull City through November 15. Find out more at sugarskullcity.com.