Amy Morton, owner and operator of Stolp Island Social in Aurora, grew up in the industry and worked alongside her father, legendary restaurateur Arnie Morton of Morton’s Steakhouse.
Morton learned the business from the ground up, working nearly every position from a server to director of recruitment and training. After a 10-year hiatus from the industry to raise her three daughters, she returned strong in 2012 and founded her restaurant group named AMDP, an acronym for “Arnie Morton’s Daughter’s Place” in memory and honor to her late dad, according to her biography. In addition to Stolp Island Social, Morton owns Found Kitchen and Social House and The Barn Steakhouse in Evanston, both in Evanston.
When Morton opened Stolp Island Social at the end of 2019, she joined a strong community of women-owned businesses downtown Aurora, all with stories of strength and aptitude.
Here’s a list of 10 women-owned businesses that opened downtown since 2016, and it’s now difficult to imagine Aurora’s downtown without them:
• Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Boulevard. The welcoming foodie paradise serves up delightful drinks and incredible dishes, and quickly has become a go-to for theater-goers.
• Calla Lily Tea Room, 83 S. LaSalle Street. Owned by Tonya Barkdoll, Calla Lily Tea Room opened in 2018 and brought an authentic European tea-room to downtown Aurora’s historic Auto Row.
• Charlie’s Silver Spoon Creamery, 6 E. Downer Place. Renovating the long-vacant Silver Plate building, owner Esther Saltijeral created an ice cream parlor that honors the historic location.
• Do or Dye Designs, 24 S. Stolp Avenue. Owner Debi Lerma will celebrate her salon’s fifth anniversary in April. Lerma was one of the first of a wave of women-owned businesses that opened in 2018.
• Latrice Murphy Design and Photography, 62 S. River Street. Murphy moved her business around downtown a couple of times before landing in a spot that she could customize to perfectly fit her needs in 2021.
• Oxie Affordable Optical, 131 W. Galena Boulevard. Owner Mia Corriea opened her eyewear shop in April 2016 which led the way for several women-owned businesses to follow suit.
• Pure Skin Solutions, 26 S. Stolp Avenue. In May 2018, Fatimah Kahiga opened her upscale skin spa on the ground floor of the now-renovated Keystone building and joined Do or Dye Salon and If These Walls Could Talk.
• The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, 3rd Floor. Owner Amy Jackson offers yoga, women’s retreats, and workshops at her studio in the Aurora Business Center.
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place. Shannon Gutierrez opened her women’s boutique and gift shop as a holiday pop up and then held the store’s grand opening in July 2018. Gutierrez will move the store to a new location at 80 S. River Street this Spring.
• Zen Loft and Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, 2nd Floor. Opening in April 2016, owner Emily Beaupre was among the first of a new wave of women-owned businesses downtown.
To find a complete directory of downtown businesses including dozens of women-owned businesses, visit auroradowntown.org.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. Aurora Downtown, along with Wyckwood House, celebrates local women at Boss Babes, a monthly social event. Keep up with downtown events by following Aurora Downtown on Facebook. auroradowntown.org.