Modern day downtown West Chicago looks much different than its previous activity. Although some buildings are in their original form, many have been replaced since the early days due to structural damage. Main Street is less bustling as many buildings remain vacant.
“There used to be so much more passenger traffic before. A lot of people, you know, upwards of 500 trains come through West Chicago every day, in the early days, so a lot more people and before cars before 38 and 50 and 64 kind of made a rectangle around downtown, which is why we attribute a lot of the loss of downtown businesses to,” Phalen said.
In 2017, the City of West Chicago adopted the Central-Main Street Redevelopment Plan and then in 2022 the Comprehensive Plan was adopted providing a more modern plan after the Covid pandemic.
“The types of businesses that would be ideal additions in the downtown include boutiques, restaurants (including popcorn, candy, ice cream shops), business incubator spaces for entrepreneurs, businesses promoting and showcasing art, other entertainment type businesses, etc,” Chrisse said.
The businesses that have opened in recent years such as The Whistle Stop, Creative Feeling, Casa Leon and Cocoa Notes Bakeshop, have helped the downtown stay lively.
In the past month, a new business has opened its doors: Muy Cool Party. It is a balloon shop that specializes in balloon decor for any celebration.
“While a lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same. I would say that in the downtown (Main Street) the buildings are the same however, there are newer inhabitants,” school psychologist and WEGO alum
Karen Szot said.