Downtown Evanston board members held their annual meeting Thursday afternoon at the soon-to-open Bourbon ‘N Brass Speakeasy and received a tally indicating more businesses opened than closed in the downtown district this year.
Downtown Evanston Executive Director Annie Coakley said 14 businesses closed while 18 have either opened or are scheduled to open before the end of the year. (That count missed the just-announced closure next week of Tommy Nevin’s.)
Ron Onesti.
Ron Onesti, owner of Bourbon ‘N Brass and the Rock ‘N Ravioli restaurant, both part of his Evanston Rocks complex that will share the former 27 Live space at 1012 Church St., told his guests he plans to open the restaurant next week.
The turnover tally shows seven retail shop closures:
- 2nd Time Around at 900 Church St.
- Jos. A. Bank at 1616 Sherman Ave.
- Life is Good at 1741 Sherman Ave.
- Title Nine at 818 Church St.
- Relish at 706 Church St.
- IXIA Flowers at 1630 Chicago Ave.
- Evereve at 1608 Sherman Ave.
They were replaced with just three new retail shops:
- Kovet Boutique, a pop-up at 900 Church St.
- Evanston Pop-Up Gallery at 1627 Sherman Ave.
- Qi Kratom CBD Tea at 624 Grove St.
In the dining sector, seven businesses closed or are scheduled to close:
- Bistro Bordeaux at 618 Church St.
- Five Guys at 816 Church St.
- Sam’s Chicken & Ribs at 1639 Orrington Ave.
- Zoba Noodle at 1565 Sherman Ave.
- Creperie Saint Germain at 1512 Sherman Ave.
- Tommy Nevin’s Pub, at 1454 Sherman Ave.
They were replaced with seven new dining spots:
- Aloha Poke at 630 Davis St.
- Z Breakfast Club at 1512 Sherman Ave.
- Shang Noodle & Chines at 608 Davis St.
- Sushi Burrito at 1565 Sherman Ave.
- The Barn in the rear at 1016 Church St.
- Red Hot Chilli Pepper at 600 Davis St.
- Furious Spoon at 1700 Maple Ave.
One service business — Country Financial at 1015 Davis St. — closed, and two opened — Fidelity Investments at 808 Church St. and Senior Helpers at 1590 Sherman Ave.
And, in the entertainment space, no closures reported, but downtown has already gained one business — Evanston Games & Cafe at at 1610 Maple Ave. — and is on the verge of seeing two — Rock ‘N Ravioli and Bourbon ‘N Brass open at 1012 Church St.
Target
What happened to the plans for Target downtown on Sherman? There was all sorts of information about it over the summer, but I haven’t seen anything recently and they haven’t opened there. Anyone know?
Target date
Hi Sarah,
As we reported last May, the target date for Target’s opening downtown is March 2018.
Renovation work is underway in the Sherman Plaza space.
Haven’t checked recently about whether the opening schedule has slipped.
— Bill
Target
Paul Zalmezak, economic development manager for the city, says Target is still on schedule to open in March 2018.
— Bill
Also closed
Lyfe Kitchen 1603 Orrington Ave
Good point
… but it is supposed to reopen in January as Kinship.
— Bill