By Ricky Rieckert
Dear readers,
The article this week on Aurora’s history continues with the focus on downtown Aurora.
Readers 50 years and older might remember places I’m writing about. Not that I’m omitting the younger generations, but they didn’t have a chance to see or experience Aurora the way it was. That’s why we call it history.
Every generation can relate and tell a story or two. Like a first date, a movie, shopping, delis, restaurants, bowling at Stardust Lanes at the Tivoli, the former train station….
In addition to the stroll down memory lane each week in this column, the Aurora Historical Society invites us to look further into the past, with pictures, books, presentations, and artifacts. They have great individuals there to answer questions. Check for open hours before going.
I’m sad Aurora mayor John Laesch made cuts to funding for the Paramount Theatre, leading to a reduction in shows.
Many wonder why mayor Laesch decreased funding for the Paramount Theatre, an Aurora attraction drawing visitors from all over the Chicago area.
The Paramount Theatre and RiverEdge Park have had success drawing patrons to Aurora. It’s possible the new restaurants, that former Aurora mayor Richard Irvin’s administration brought to the city, with incentives to start up, are going to struggle to survive.
I have heard Leilani Asian Fusion has already closed, in the old Crosby Sport Shop on the northwest corner of Galena and River Street.
Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social closed in 2023, even with money from the City.
To make the downtown come alive, you need to have a couple of businesses with a strong draw, to get the ball rolling. Believe it!
Downtown Aurora, in the 1950s and 1960s was full of stores: Sears, Carson’s, Leath’s Furniture, Kresge’s, Woolworth’s, Robert Halls, Main Surplus, and Hayden’s Sporting Goods.
You had Home Savings and Loan, Old Second, Merchants, and Aurora National Bank for your banking needs.
In addition, there was Stein’s Deli, The Stallion, Broadway Restaurant, Paradise Inn, The Rivoli, on the southeast corner of W. New York Street and N. River Street, which by the way is an empty lot, next to Ballydoyle’s and a parking garage, today.
Downtown was a busy place on the weekends especially, and was similar to downtown Naperville, Geneva, and St. Charles, in that respect. Monday nights were shopping nights, with the stores open until 9 p.m..
There was a beautiful train station on S. Broadway along with approximately 20 bars or so, most of them on Broadway and River Street.
The bottom line is that our predecessors didn’t keep the downtown alive. They let buildings fall apart so bad, that it was cheaper to tear them down, and build a park in the middle of the heart of downtown. Very sad.
A downtown is strung building to building, period.
Then, a mayor and his court got an idea in the 1960s to build Northgate Shopping Center on N. Lake Street. Wow!
Sears left the downtown to go to Northgate, along with others, creating a direct blow to downtown Aurora.
But the kicker was the construction of the Fox Valley Mall in 1976. That put the dagger in the heart of downtown.
Just like a violent storm, when you pick up the pieces, the leadership of Aurora allowed the downtown to sink. All that remained were banks, sporting good stores, bars, and Mexican restaurants.
Northgate did offer a lot, with a Jewel Food Store, Bockman’s Jewelers, Sears, then Carson’s. Now there are several restaurants, thrift and dollar stores, a barber shop, a beauty shop, a small grocery store, clothing store, furniture store, laundromat, Planet Fitness, Harbor Freight tools, and a new DMV facility.
Mayor Laesch, please don’t deprive the Aurora Civic Center Board of the money used to operate and support the Paramount Theatre of its shows, the Performing Arts, the Civic Center and RiverEdge Park. It’s the only big draw in downtown, especially when the Hollywood Casino moves to N. Farnsworth Avenue in the near future.
Lastly, please keep the funding going for the Aurora Historical Society, a great entity that draws people of all ages and cultures. John Jaros and crew work hard and are very knowledgeable of Aurora, the City of Lights.
As the new captain in charge, I hope you keep the ship afloat and sailing. Please don’t let the good things sink, because of funding cuts.
My Dad told me when I was a kid: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
This City has the chance to be the number 1 city in Chicagoland.
Next week I’ll have more about making the downtown work and shuttles.