There’s a lot happening in downtown Aurora right now on the heels of this Summer’s June openings of the Paramount School of the Arts and The Venue, a live music concert hall at 21 S. Broadway. There will be four additional grand openings prior to the end of Summer:
• The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 8 N. Broadway, will celebrate its grand opening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 during First Fridays. The store features a mixture of home decor, handmade items, DIY products, painted furniture, gift items, and more. Owner Yvonne Thompson is working with a variety of creative partners and vendors and said the store will offer a fun, unique shopping experience.
• PopCulture Gourmet Popcorn opened Saturday, Aug. 10 at 9 S. Stolp Avenue in the ground floor of Leland Tower. The popcorn shop will offer 40 flavors and plans to add vegan flavors as well. Hours are noon to 7 p.m Tuesday through Saturday. Owner Kendall Jackson, of Tinley Park, hopes the store will be the first of several.
• Charlie’s Silver Spoon Creamery, 6 E. Downer Place, opened Saturday in the restored Silverplate building at the northeast corner of Stolp Avenue and Downer Place. Owners Esther and Mike Saltijeral, of Oswego, purchased the building in 2017. The ice cream is made in-house.
• Warehouse 55, 55 S. Lake Street, will celebrate its grand opening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. Owner Mark Allen, of Mark Allen Inspired, said in marketing materials that the store will feature a unique collection of vintage finds, repurposed furnishings, and many one-of-a-kind accessories.
For more information on downtown news and happenings, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown