Is Business Booming In Evanston?

Have you noticed all the new business changes in Evanston lately?

Though the KFC closed at the corner of Dodge and Dempster, don’t worry about it for too long.  Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles has taken over the former Napa Auto Parts store at 2424 Dempster Street. Looks like there’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’m certain the place will attract customers from Evanston and far beyond.

And, last week, as I sat in the drive-thru ATM at Chase Bank (Davis St. and Orrington Ave.) I noticed new businesses like Gigi Bottega, Adeline’s Room (recently moved from 900 Chicago Ave.) and Austin’s Tacos (see this write-up in the Daily Northwestern and this link to Evanston Land Company).

In June of this year, Giordano Dance, founded in 1952, left its Evanston location at 622 Davis (upstairs) for the Andersonville neighborhood in Chicago. However, just down the street from Giordano Dance’s former location, opened its brand new spot at the corner of Chicago Ave. and Davis St. (relocated from 500 Davis).  From the street, I think the new restaurant looks great, especially its small, outdoor seating area…but some people aren’t so excited about the new locale: Click here to read Neil B.’s September 20th review on Yelp!

Still, it’s great to see so many businesses – and so much variety -- opening, expanding and reinventing themselves in Evanston.