Stores announced for this year's Boardwalk Shops program in Batavia

Chicago Tribune

14-03-2025

Shops focusing on international baked goods, tabletop games and African and Caribbean products are among the stores that will be part of this year's Boardwalk Shops program in Batavia.
The Batavia MainStreet group recently announced the participants in this year's program, a business incubator initiative that is now in its sixth year.
Over half a decade ago, small 12-foot by 12-foot shops were made available at 114 E. Wilson St. in Batavia as part of the program. The first year included eight businesses and has increased to 10 since then.
The Batavia MainStreet group has seen many of the small, fledgling mom-and-pop business that have taken part in the Boardwalk Shops program move on to have brick-and-mortar sites of their own.
Batavia MainStreet Executive Director Beth Walker said momentum in the program continues and that a total of over 20 businesses submitted proposals this year with 10 being selected to take part.
'We started taking applications in September of last year. We had over 20 apply and we had about 30 the year before but we still had good candidates,' she said. 'As far as applications dropping a bit, if you look at the cycle of a small business, it's usually four to five years that it lasts and coming out of COVID, we had a lot of people that started micro-businesses, and a lot of those had to make a decision about whether to go back into the regular work force.'
Walker said this year's collection of shops are 'a great 10. I think it's unique.'
'As we get more retail in downtown Batavia, we're very mindful not to overlap with our existing businesses,' she said. 'This year, we're really happy. We have two that are returning with things that they continue to want to work on and grow their business before they go into a brick-and-mortar.'
The returning businesses are Jodi Mac Sweets & Treats and Scout & Gem, which offers jewelry and home decor.
'We have some other interesting things including a pet food store and a couple that are coming in from Chicago with Guatemala roots that will be selling Guatemalan goods and graphic designs (Giron Guatemalan Apparel + Home), and a lady from Africa who will be having an African market,' Walker said of this year's shops.
Other entries include Tabletop Game Shop, which is bringing its third location to Batavia, as well as A Rooted Home selling home goods and Jaclyn Sue Boutique featuring women's clothing.
'We also have a bakery (AHA Kapeh Traditional Bread) who will sell international baked goods, so that's exciting,' Walker said.
'We also have Stitched by Stephanie,' whose owner has 'an interesting story,' Walker said. 'She's a young woman who sells crocheted stuffed animals but she just turned 21 and has been doing this for four years and is looking to grow her business.'
Walker said there have been pet supply purveyors before at the Boardwalk Shops but the new Pet Wants business offers 'wholesome food for your dog, snacks and some pet supply goods.'
The new Kumba African Market is also unique, she said. Walker said the owner 'is a refugee from Africa and she had a store in Wheaton and is trying out a different market in Batavia.'
Walker said while the Boardwalk Shops program is an incubator in nature, 'it serves two purposes.'
'It's a destination for downtown. We love that it continues to be a destination to draw people from outside Batavia and we hope they will continue to shop the other businesses,' she said. 'It fills in a lot of vacancies we have in downtown. It's really changed that and we're really happy for that.'
Opening day for the Boardwalks Shops this year is May 9.