"This is not the goodbye we hoped to have," Lennon's wrote when it closed at 16 W. Jefferson Ave. in September, according to the Daily Herald. The restaurant had been open about a year. Downtown Naperville Alliance Executive Director Dawn Portner told the paper that no reason was given.
This is the second time the building has emptied out in two years. Over the same stretch, the storefronts on either side of it, and just around the corner, have been filling with shops that each do one thing: churros, gyros, açaí bowls, with eyeglasses and menswear on the way. On Jefferson Avenue right now, the small single-purpose places are the ones opening, and the big multi-floor place to spend a whole evening is the one with dark windows.
Three Floors, Two Concepts, About a Year Each
Both tenants of 16 W. Jefferson tried the same thing: one building with a different experience on each floor.
| AltaVida | Lennon's | |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | 2024 | August 2025 |
| Closed | Early November 2024 | September 2026 |
| Format | Latin-inspired, three-story entertainment complex with a casual Spanish cafe | Three-floor dining and entertainment concept |
| What was inside | Food, music and drink inspired by several Latin cities and cultures, about 10,000 square feet across three floors | First-floor eatery with shareable plates, second-floor lounge with live shows, third-floor steakhouse planned |
NCTV17 described Lennon's three levels. The ground floor, Lennon's Eatery, served small plates of globally inspired dishes plus some larger entrées for sharing. Lennon's Lounge on the second floor hosted live performances and had a bar food menu. The third floor was planned as L3 Steak, with a three-course prix fixe menu and a rooftop deck. In September the business posted photos of that space ahead of a special event planned there for October 7.
When it opened, the Daily Herald covered it as a place to stay as long as you wanted. The second-floor lounge had weekend live entertainment, several TVs, a stage with lighting and sound, and private-event space.
Both tenants built around guests settling in for an evening across three floors, and neither one lasted much past a year.
The Parking Problem AltaVida Took to City Hall
AltaVida brought up parking within a few months of opening. In fall 2024, AltaVida asked the Naperville City Council for a valet parking transfer zone on Jefferson. NCTV17 reported that a majority of the council voted no, even though city staff supported the request.
At the October 1, 2024 meeting, a representative of the business told the council that 60% of its customers had trouble finding parking, NCTV17 reported. The Downtown Naperville Alliance voted against the proposal. The council's liaison to the Alliance named traffic congestion as one concern. She also noted the zone would have replaced a multi-use loading zone with 15- and 30-minute parking, serving a single restaurant.
Short-term spaces like those 15- and 30-minute spots work well for a quick stop, such as grabbing churros or a gyro to go.
What Fits in One Storefront
The places opening around 16 W. Jefferson are all built for a short visit.
- Lola's Handcrafted Churros, 8 W. Jefferson Ave. Grand opening was Sept. 28. It's the third location for founder Mayra Serna, after Lisle and Yorkville. The space used to be Kerwell, a CBD store, and it sits right next to Naper Nuts & Sweets.
- I Heart Gyro, 22 E. Chicago Ave. A fast-casual Mediterranean spot that took over a space previously held by another gyro shop. Owner Khalil Faykov opened the first location in Vancouver, Washington, about 10 years ago.
- Deep Purpl, 120 Water St. A Brazilian açaí bowl cafe, a few minutes' walk south toward the river.
- SEE Eyewear, 214 S. Main St. A Michigan-founded eyewear company. NaperToday listed it as arriving in November. It will be the brand's fifth location, joining one in Skokie and three in Chicago.
- State & Liberty Clothing Co., 144 W. Jefferson Ave. A men's clothier known for athletic-fit suits, blazers and hoodies, moving into the former Amber Waves Art of Hair Salon space. The company has said it is aiming for a mid- to late-November opening.
NaperToday listed Lola's prices. The best seller is the churro sundae at $11.50, a topped churro with soft-serve in combinations like Nutella and strawberries or cookies and cream. Milkshakes are $7.25. Mango lemonade and the Lola's latte, an espresso drink with horchata-flavored milk and edible rose petals, are $5.25 each. The shop is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and until 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Every one of these is a single storefront with a single purpose. None of them needs a valet line.
The Full-Service Bet Directly Across the Street
One new arrival on the block is just as ambitious as 16 W. Jefferson, and it sits right across from it.
Cantina Taco Grill at 15 W. Jefferson Ave., Suite 101, comes from Jose Oliver, who also runs Taco Grill and Salsa Bar in Westmont. According to Chicago Food Magazine, the plan calls for 70 to 85 seats in the dining room and up to 150 on the outdoor patio. Dry-aged ribeye, New York strip and picanha get cooked in a Josper charcoal oven, and tortillas are hand-pressed to order. The menu includes bone marrow tacos, tuna ceviche with passion fruit leche de tigre, and a flan flight for dessert.
What sets it apart from its neighbor across the street is the schedule. Cantina Taco Grill plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, including a brunch menu with chilaquiles, shrimp and poblano omelets, and berry toast with goat cheese. Instead of counting on a few big nights with a stage show, it's built around meals at every hour.
The opening has already moved once. Oliver had hoped to open Sept. 15 and pushed it back because of unforeseen issues, the Daily Herald reported. NaperToday later listed Oct. 29 as the scheduled date. Check the restaurant's own channels before planning a meal there.
Downtown Traffic Is Up While the Big Building Sits Empty
None of this means downtown is slowing down. At the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce's commercial real estate event on Oct. 7, 2026, Naperville Development Partnership president Monica Conners said downtown economic activity, tracked with the city's Placer AI software, was up 15% year over year. NaperToday reported the same presentation put Block 59 up 125% year over year. Conners said the city now has more than 400 restaurants.
Lennon's closed during a year when downtown traffic was rising, and the openings in that same year were small counters like Lola's, I Heart Gyro and Deep Purpl.
The Alliance has also named more downtown arrivals on the way, including Slyce NY. Its listing puts the pizza shop at 215 S. Washington St., a block off Jefferson.
A Late-November Evening Built From Small Stops
On Thanksgiving weekend, Naperville Sunrise Rotary's NaperLights display turns on along Water Street and the south side of the Riverwalk. According to the Rotary's announcement, the display has more than 250,000 lights, a Giant Teddy Bear, a red Santa Throne and a rainbow arch over Foyo Plaza. Trees on Water Street and at Foyo Plaza are synced to music from 4 to 10 p.m.
You can reach the display from the Webster Street covered bridge, Main Street or Webster Street. Public parking is in the Water Street and Municipal Center parking decks. On weekends, Rotary volunteers hand out holographic viewing glasses to kids while supplies last.
From the Water Street deck, Deep Purpl is right on the walk, Main Street and SEE Eyewear's new spot are a few blocks north, and Lola's on Jefferson serves churro sundaes until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday of that weekend.
If you live within walking distance of Jefferson Avenue and want to know how downtown openings like these factor into a home's value, or if you're thinking about selling nearby, Annamarie Moisé is happy to help. Call Anna today to start your move.
