September 16, 2020

In a time when many businesses are struggling to stay afloat, in Downtown Elgin there are nine new businesses that have opened (or will open soon) during the Covid-19 pandemic, and more are on the horizon. Jennifer Fukala, Executive Director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin noted, “Despite the Covid pandemic, there continues to be a high level of interest in available business spaces and properties. The entrepreneurs we’ve assisted these past few months are truly champions! Opening a new business during the pandemic certainly adds extra challenges, but it also presents many opportunities for businesses to do things in a new way. I am proud to support all of these new endeavors and encourage the community to come check them out!”

Cook’s Sweet Boutique celebrated its grand opening during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Downtown Elgin.

Recently opened businesses include Red Poppy Bistro, Still Life Meditation, Elgin Community Bikes, Cook’s Sweet Boutique, Meraki Market Hub, Moni’s Soulfood Fiesta and Viator Coffee. All of these businesses opened in the past couple of months and have had to face head-on the challenges of successfully opening a new business during a pandemic. Also opening soon is the highly anticipated BeaUnique Latin Kitchen which is planning to open later this year or early 2021.

In addition to these new establishments, exciting changes have been happening inside Dream Hall at 51. The new Viator Coffee is located inside Dream Hall in a beautifully re-designed main floor space and the popular Lounge 51 moved from the upstairs space to the main level.  Another new area was created to host pop-up food vendors such as Nice Buns, Toasty Cheese and currently BeaUnique Latin Kitchen is serving from the Dream Hall on a pop-up basis until their new location is ready. Often times pop-up food vendors turn into brick and mortar businesses which makes Dream Hall an especially exciting partner in the growth of Downtown Elgin.

These nine new business are proof that while opening a new business during the pandemic can be a challenge, there are exciting possibilities to come!