Three businesses recently joined the Aurora Downtown family. Both Tredwell Coffee and Wyckwood House moved into the old Metropolitan Business College building at 14 W. Downer Place. Branch Gardens is open at the northwest corner of Lake and Benton Streets.
Our downtown family is always growing, and we’re particularly thrilled about this trio of newcomers. I could say that they make our family whole, but we always have room for more.
In May, Tredwell Coffee opened at 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18. Owner Chad Dawes, along with some partners, purchased the business from Amy and Joe Petit, who owned River’s Edge Cafe at that location.
It’s been a popular spot for coffee shops over the last dozen or so years. Fiorelli’s Italian Pastry & Cappuccino Bar was open at the location until 2006, then it was briefly Bag and Brew, and then River’s Edge Cafe, which was open under three different ownerships until the Petits sold it recently.
Dawes brought the space up to date and is focusing on the coffee menu as well as creating a welcoming space. Tredwell features Tugboat coffee in Addison and pastries from Cocoa Bean in Geneva. They recently added a few popular breakfast choices to the menu, including egg sandwiches and quiche.
Opened in early May, Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake Street, got a head start on the planting season. Kori and Bryan Kasper, of Aurora, own the garden center that used to be a vacant lot. The Kaspers spruced up the lot that is now filled with annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs. They offer a small gift shop with pots, yard ornaments, and other gardening items.
Branch Gardens is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Last, but not least, Wyckwood House will celebrate its grand opening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 13 at 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16. After being open for some pop-ups during downtown events, owner Shannon Gutierrez is ready to bring more of her flair to the public in a home decor boutique.
Gutierrez, of Aurora, and a fellow Freeman Elementary mom, gained attention from after she held markets in her West Side Aurora home, and more recently at Kane County Flea Market.
Gutierrez searched for Aurora area artisans and has a keen eye for chic home decor. The retail boutique offers gifts, clothing, and baby items.
You could say our family is complete with the addition of serious coffee, growing things, and a darling boutique, but we still have room for an ice cream shop, a music store, a comic book shop, and other ground floor, walk-in friendly places.
To borrow from mayor Richard Irvin of Aurora, our downtown is open for business.
Marissa Amoni is event coordinator for Aurora Downtown, a nonprofit of business and property owners in Special Service Area #One. Aurora Downtown hosts First Fridays, which takes July off, but is back on August 3 with Stolp Block Party featuring live music, live art, food trucks, and more. www.auroradowntown.org.