What's gone from Naperville that you miss most?

Cee Bee's foods (free pretzels) & Tasty Bakery.
The downtown has lost it's hometown touch, too many
big name high end stores that are too elitist, yuck!

I miss the Tasty Bakery as well. Can someone please open a good bakery in this town- - there is none!!

I also miss Subs & Co and Wilma Cafe in the downtown ( I know, I can travel down Ogden to find Wilma's, but it's different now)...

I really miss Truffles (a recent departure).

I truly hope that there will always be some of the smaller, independent stores/shoppes. I will always continue to shop at those establishments first.

We miss Wilma's corner cafe. A great place for a cheap, tasty and generous breakfast. They've relocated, but the convenience and coziness have been diminished.

I miss when life was simplier. When we were surrounded by corn fields. When the last fling was held downtown. Streets were closed off for the event, and you would know the other people who were there. I miss small town Naperville.

I guess I miss Rascal's the most. They had hamburgers on dark rye and baked onion loaf and the most delicious baked onion soup imaginable. Guess I'm hung up on onions, but it was more than that. They had the correct atmosphere: dimly lit, and the room of old mirrors was the most.

They had drinks too and many nights we left work and went there for some drinks and great food. It was better than anything we have now.

Moser Lumber

Bob Horsley Mens Wear

The Willoway

Wilma's

I agree with Back to the Basics - there are far too many to list but let's start with Fidler's, the movie theatre, Oswalds, City Meat Market (yes, I know the last 2 moved but it was nicer when they were downtown), Carousel shoes, the bowling alley, Feldotts miniature golf course - the list could go on and on. Unfortunately, we've become a city that prefers the high end stores and I think that's a shame. Having lived in Naperville now for over 40 years, I enjoyed the downtown more when Trudy's Flowers was there. I worked on Jefferson St and could go to Fidler's for one of the best burgers in town (and not pay an arm and a leg), then could visit Trudy's for my weekly flowers, and how about Washington Square? Louie had a wonderful establishment for a nice night out. But we've "progressed" to being the elite and I think that's a darn shame. For those of us who are a single income household it is getting more and more difficult to stay here. And then there are the seniors (of which my mother is one) who stay here because that's where her family is, but it's getting harder and harder. It's too bad we don't take into consideration ALL the citizens of Naperville, instead of those who stay here for 3-5 years and then move on. I feel like we've forgotten those that founded Naperville - change is good but not if it forces those that have held on the longest, like Antiques on Jefferson out for yet another upscale restaurant or store. I wonder what Mayor Zaininger would think about all of this.

I'm sorry, I forgot one of the most important spots that used to be in town. The corner pharmacy at Jefferson and Washington where you went every morning for coffee and discussions about what was going on in the downtown. Where Marge cooked breakfast for you and you could debate the local happenings. That was just about as good as Fidler's!

Everything everyone said above is so true. What I really miss the "home town" attitude that used to be here. Now, even though I've lived here 30+ years, born here, NCHS grad, because I don't make a boat load of money, I'm treated a bit like I'm on the outside looking in. Naperville has become more about money and status than neighbors and community.

Now, as for places I miss: Cock Robin, Grants, Altons, Broeckers, the Original Washington Square, just to name a few.

I miss when Ribfest started it was a community festival. You brought a blanket and ate ribs and listened to local music. Now it is a mega circus, advertised to people all over the suburbs with has-been bands. It's too crowded and chaotic now and we never go.

Remember the lines at Oberweis every weekend night and how big the ice cream cones were? There was nothing like meeting your friends at the Riverwalk and walking over to stand in line for ice cream while seeing so many friends and families you knew!

I remember when there was open space and beautiful trees which have now been replaced by eyesores of cement and steel, such as the carillon. That ugly monstrocity can be seen for miles around.
What an embarrassment to our town. Grandfather Moser must be rolling over in his grave. To think that his money was wasted on that ugly, ugly erection in the sky. Forget about improving the riverwalk, the first thing that should be done is to have that thing torn down.

Well said everybody.
I was born and raised in Chicago, came to Naperville in 1983. Tasty was the only decent bakery around outside of the ones in Chicago & Berwyn. I love swimming at Centennial Beach, but can't stand that atonal bell tower and would never walk into many shops. I thought I would loose it when Book Zeller closed. I miss the simple life and can't stand the McMansions & elites. Now Water street is changing and they're putting a parking garage by the library. Wilma's was outstanding. Frankly, most now were interested in flipping their house, wonder what's going to happen with the continued credit crisis, hope it slows down what caused the loss of old town Naperville. I could care less about that Frog bar, Coldwater Creek, upscale fish joint, & promenade. I can't even go to J.C. Licht to shoot the breeze with the hard core painters, that's now a very pricey Benjamin Moore shop. I pray they leave the Burger King alone!

Parkview Pizza

Cock Robin by the Riverwalk, and Tasty Bakery. There used to be a bowling alley where the Barnes & Noble is.

I miss when Eli Hodapp didn't live here and I miss when people didn't come up with dumb conspiracy theories.

I miss the time when AOL was the dominant player in Internet and cordless phones weighed 20 pounds.

I miss Deanne's Papers which was once located in the shopping plaza at the corner of Washington and Chicago Ave. A wonderful gem of a stationary shop where the needs of the customer always came first. Many milestones in my family's life were marked by invitations and specialty monogrammed notes purchased in that store.

Call me crazy but I miss the farms. I loved being able to get fresh produce whenever I wanted.

Wow! Parkview Pizza! A blast from the past! Cock Robin, Tasty Bakery, Earl of Sandwich, JoJo's, the Naper Theater, the onion loaf at Rascals! - everything mentioned so far along with room to breathe. If you mention anything about what Naperville used to be, newer people can't even imagine there being nothing south of Bailey Rd. or even no Bailey Rd. at all, no Fox Valley (or whatever it's called now), or Ogden being two lanes with a corn processing plant on it. North High School was a cornfield. Naper Bank had marble steps and columns. As Sue Ellen said, there's just too much to list, and Lori - I miss those days as well. We walked everywhere, day or night.

One of the best things about growing up here, was that no one made anyone feel "less" in any way, even if someone had more. Sad that that part of Naperville was one of the first charms to go. There's just nothing quaint about Naperville anymore. To all of the posters so far, thanks for the memories! It sometimes feels so lonely in this town, even with family still here and life-long friends. Maybe someday, we'll all meet. Chances are, we know each other from the old days!

Thge thing I miss most about Naperville is when Harold White was editor and publisher of The Sun.

Downtown Naperville is nothing more than a yuppie amusement park these days. Naperville lost its soul when all of the family owned businesses were replaced by corporate franchises. I couldn't agree more with "NCHS Grad and almost life long resident", Naperville is now about who can lease the most expensive luxury car and float the biggest multi-million dollar mortgage.

Great small town shops like the Mole Hole have mutated in to abominations like Rizzo's, contributing to the Naperville DUI money making machine. Oswald's is gone, the meat market is gone, ribfest is a circus, etc. I miss all the shops that everyone has already listed.

I suppose you can't escape progress, it's just sad to see what downtown Naperville has turned in to. Recently Book Zeller has closed up shop, as well as the middle eastern takeout place whose name escapes me run by the nicest man you'll ever meet. Now we have a vacant basement and a Sunglass Hut.

When is downtown Naperville going to get a few more Starbucks? We could use one where Gramcracker's Comic Books used to be next to Burger King, and one across the street from the new Riverwalk construction project. Three Starbucks within 500 feet of each other is NOT ENOUGH! I want to be able to close my eyes and walk 30 seconds in any random direction and be able to order a double foam latte frappuchino with extra carmel and chocolate shavings!

Oh, another thing I'm forgetting that I miss the most! Whatever happened to the original owners/managers of Potter's Place? That used to be my family's favorite restaurant! We haven't even been in years due to the severe and constant decline in quality and service. Now it's THE place to go if you want overpriced cold food with matching terrible service.

Jewel foodstore in the Naperville Plaza. Walgreens before Altons. Grants before Moser.

Broeckers, Cock Robin, Ralph's Meal-O-Wheel, Fidlers, when we could ride our bikes around downtown, when we could afford to live in Naperville, when the East Highlands was a great place to live (before the teardowns!)

Munchies pizza and drive in movies. Oodles. Being able to drive up to the fireworks and park- and watch from the car. I loved being able to ride my bike to the beach from the very north part of town.

I miss CeeBee's in downtown Naperville,it was nice having a grocery store there. I miss the Mole Hole and Wickerworks and their wonderful ribbons and Christmas decorations. I miss Wilma's being downtown too.

Washington Square Restaurant. Oh boy, do I miss that place. My favorite restaurant for many years. The greatest prime rib and wonderful, wonderful service.

The smell of vanilla wafer day from Nabisco...yum! Getting overruns of gum for free from Amurol. Walking to Cee Bees for a soda then checking out the toys at Oswalds. Eating pizza at Leonardo's or taco's at Potters Place with friends from Knox Church. Laying bricks at the first Riverwalk with Knox Church on a really hot summer day then jumping into Centennial Beach and having frozen Twix bars. Less people moving at a slower pace where everyone was polite and kind and smiled to one another. Not to mention helping one another. The only crazy thing was leaving Saturday night mass at St. Peter and Paul when everyone zoomed out of the parking lot at once to go out to dinner. And of course you can't leave out the onion loaf at Rascals and square ice cream from Cock Robin! Good burgers from the Landshark (oh I mean Landmark). Jogging from Naperville North to Dairy Queen with the cross country team (it made it all worth it). I miss businesses owned by local people you would know.

How could I leave out the original library on Washington with the bandshell behind it? Listening to music while running around and eating ice cream and treats? Finding your family staked out on a blanket. Seeing your neighbors and friends. Swimming at the nearby YMCA on friday nights. Ogden 6 movie theater was the place to go then they built Fox Valley mall and opened a new movie theater outside the mall. All the ramps in Fox Valley Mall going down to the food court. The first Last Fling in the parking lot behind Oswalds Pharmacy.

The Bowling Alley,Cock Robin, Park View Pizza, Oodles, Mr. Value Grocery Store(I think before it was a CeeBees????), and less traffic!!! There are some wonderful places to go to now, but I miss the way it used to be! Change is good, crazy sometimes, but good.

I miss feldotts and I remember when I drove out from Glen Ellyn to "the boondocks" to see "that Mall they built in the middle of nowhere".I remember a bar on the corner of Aurora Road and 34 but I can't recall the name. And I remember Rascals onion loaf!!! Wow that was great! The year was roughly 1972. Naperville was a spot on the map. It wasn't cool. It wasn't the place to live it, wasn't even a place to stop. It was the last vestage of Dupage county before you crossed the line into Kane County and blue collar jobs. It is what it was planned to be. It is a marketing dream. I also miss the Bakery and Willoway Manor. I miss the the farmland between Naperville and Plainfield which took forever to travel. I think it will continue to be a good place to live it just isn't the same place

I miss what I believe was called Grandma Macs or Grandpa Macs. I can't remember exactly. I think it was where the subway is.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

How about Andy's Popcorn stand.

I miss the store 'My Attic'. They always had the neatest things in there. The Christmas ornaments were so unique. It was on Washington north of Jefferson.

I, too, also miss the lines at Oberweis.

But, mostly, I miss the small town feel that allowed me to pull up to the store I wanted to visit and park right in front of it. E-gads - I HATE going downtown Naperville now and avoid it as much as possible. You can't even park by Lou Malnati's anymore. You used to be guaranteed a spot there. We used to be regulars there, but now we only venture there for a couple of birthday celebrations each year.

The Naperville Plaza of old: the Hobnail Restaurant where Colonial is now (my first job), Pizza Hut & Paisano's (now Walkers) the Happy Family Gift Shop (where the wine shop is), Grants & Moser Hardware (where the auto parts store is), Jewel (now Caseys), the fabric store (now the bird store) and the carnivals in the parking lot. I miss the Naperville Central REDSKINS and festivals where you knew you would see most of your friends.

I miss Naperville being a small 'home' town. I can remember walking downtown to Woolworths and getting penny candy. We shopped at Broecker's and Lillians. The bookstore, was above Oswald's pharmacy. The Washington Street bridge, inbetween Cock Robin and Burger King was a place to see all the 'hipies'.. HA! We could walk anywhere at anytime and not have to worry. At night, us kids would take to the street and have a game of ball. This was on Jefferson Street!! Jefferson use to be a brick street. Very little traffic when you got past the downtown area. I remember Nabisco being built...before it became Post. Does anyone remember the Sinclair station on Jackson? That big ol' dinosaur on the sign? Or.. how about when the oil tanks blew up on Jackson and Ewing. Oh... and the tracks that use to run along Ewing Street. Centennial Beach when it was quarry/river water? I took my swimming lessons in dark dirty water. . The last fling was downtown and they closed off the street on Jefferson for it. I remember riding the carousel behind Oswald's Pharmacy. Ben Franklini became Scott's 5 and 10 store. Jan's gift house? That hasn't been gone real long but it was a staple in the downtown area. Fiddler's bar was called something else but I'll be darned if I can remember the name right now. How about when Naperville had two hometown papers? I believe it was The Sun and The Clarion? A lot has been lost in the name of development. All the farms have been eaten up. The fork in the road by Central High where Oswego Road and Aurora Road met? Go Redskins!! I still have my Redskins buttons from highschool. How about when they changed the name from Naperville Community to Naperville Central. If I recall that was about 1967.
ONE.. count 'em.. ONE firestation. How many are there now.. like 9? Should be 10 but from what I understand Wu screwed that up. . ONE highschool... TWO middle schools (Lincoln and Washingon) and just a handful of grade schools. Naper, Beebe, and Ellsworth I believe.
I'd love to revisit those years. The years where you left your front door open for the evening breeze. When there were kids outside playing in the sandbox and rollerskating on the sidewalks and playing 4-square. Not like today where you have to stay inside because you have to have a parent outside just to go play. Ah, technology. Who would have ever thought our kids would be inside on a computer. Now they're inside with a Wii!
Naperville is still a nice community, but it certainly isn't a small town community like it use to be. So many issues are shoved under the rug so people don't think there is crime, murder, drugs, alcohol, robberies, etc in Naperville, but there is ..because..it's grown. With growth comes all he problems. I long for those yesterdays of Naperville.

I suppose I can consider myself a "Naper Lifer". My family moved here in 1978 when I was 4 and I still live here. In that time I, like many of you, have seen a lot of change. I guess I am different though in that I think most of the change has been good. I think when people discuss change they often overlook one very important aspect. Their own change. So while we can all harken back to a "simpler" more "friendly" Naperville, perhaps our lives and world events have simply become more complicated.

I'm not saying that some of the businesses and locations that all of you have mentioned don't evoke some good memories. They most certainly do. Some of the first car shows I attended with my father were at Cock Robin. I spent many summers riding my bike from Old Farm (then the most southern point in town) to Centennial Beach.

I, like many of you, attended NCHS (I was a REDSKIN) and had to be bused over to NNHS to use their pool when I had swimming in PE. The same PE class would go to Sports Bowl for our bowling class and 50 cent hot dogs.

As a child I distinctly remember the hub cap shop that is now the back room of the Lantern and Someplace Else was always a fun store to browse through.

I think the one memory that stands out the most while writing this would never occur in today's world. Who can forget walking to the back of the Ace Hardware on Washington and Ogden to find a monkey in a glass cage.

While it is fun to recall "the good ole days" I am proud to live in a progressive town like Naperville. You don't have to venture too far from Naperville to realize how fortunate all of us are who live here to have everything that we do at our disposal. While I'll agree that traffic is a bit of a challenge I also have discovered some creative routes to get me where I am going.

Thanks for the memories.

To JB - I was one of those "hippies" that sat on the bridge! And the Sinclair station (that's where the Riverwalk fountain is now)was owned by Mayor Zaininger. The home Mr. Zaininger was born in has recently been torn down for a teardown; Gramma Zaininger's home was torn down shortly after she passed away (right next to the library) and what about the little bar across from the Beach. And whoever would have thought we would one day be the Redhawks instead of Redskins (they'll always be Redskins to me). The women that thought up that great idea should have gotten a life rather than push through a name change! And the drive along Rt 59 - I can hardly see a cornfield to show my grandchildren due to all the growth. I'm still not sure it's all for the good. But I'm just an old Naperville resident - what do I know!!!!

I miss the barns that were at the 95th library location and the one that was on Book just south of 95th street. Not much in the way of agriculture left now. It is great to see the foresight the ones before us had in saving the land at Springbrook Prarie and the Mcdonald land area by Knock Knolls park.

By Those were the days! on April 14, 2008 4:05 PM

---Recently Book Zeller has closed up shop, as well as the middle eastern takeout place whose name escapes me run by the nicest man you'll ever meet. Now we have a vacant basement and a Sunglass Hut.---

The Middle Eastern take out place was called Olive Branch. Yes, it had excellent Middle Eastern food. It went the same way Al's Beef and Pita Inn went out of business. You can not have a fast food place in downtown with no parking or drive through. These poor people are losing their life savings because no one in City Hall is smart enought to tell them FAST FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS do not work downtown. Restaurants where people are going to dine for an hour or two justify parking in a high rise garage. No one is going to park in a high rise garage to pick up a FAST FOOD sandwich. Our City Officials have no common sense to advise against such inevitable suicides of businesses before they open up.

Back on the Middle East excellent food. There is a new restaurnat/grocery store that opened up on Bailey Rd next to the 7-Eleven called Mediterranean Oasis. It sells everything Olive Branch sold and is just as delicious if not more. Prices are substantially less due to half the cost to operate as opposed to downtown Naperville. Parking is plentiful as in all Strip Centers in Naperville. You don't have to live without your Middle Eastern food! You just have to go 1.5 miles south to Bailey from downtown, make a left and you are back in the Middle East right here in Naperville! How is that for MAGIC!!!

But that very nice man from Olive Branch has to live without his business and livelihood. If the city was going to let him operate there, they should at least have designated 3 spots for him so customers can pick up their orders. That's Naperville for you! Always doing everything wrong! Again, all that delicious food can be found at the Mediterranean Oasis on Bailey Rd. in Naperville!

to "bar hopper" ~ the bar on the corner of aurora rd and rte 34 was "Chobars". i remember it to be a diner-type place, no alcohol.

Ah, Someplace Else and all the stickers and crazy stuff. Yep. I couldn't remember the name. And the car shows and even the monkey too! Tee hee. It's the crazy simple things we seem to remember the most. Go Redskins and Go Huskies. I don't remember much of a divide, I was a Huskie but had a ton of friends at Central, Waubonsie, Oswego (Os we go out to the wild blue yonder) and even Bennett. You just made friends through sports or church with everybody.

Thanks for the memories everybody!

I miss the old homes that are being torn down and replaced with cookie-cutter McMansions. I also miss seeing yards with the houses that that are replacing the tear downs. Usually there's a tiny little patch of grass and the rest of the lot is huge house.

I too miss Broeker's, but in addition to that, I miss the ladies that used to work there. They were a slice of old Naperville! Oh, and the Tong Inn and the bowling alley on Washington St.

Eli Hodapp chiming in.

Where is Eli?

Hibernating in his apartment playing with his platstic models and grooming his cats?

Blue Skies

Dawg & Suds

Oodles - I used to have a t-shirt from there that said "I Survied Ogden Ave. Contruction", when Rte. 34 went from 2 lanes to 5.

Going to the McDonalds on Ogden (at Vest- now Phillips Flowers) on 1/2 days from JJHS. They had a fountian enclosed in glass with different colored lights on the bottom.

Munchies @ Ogden & Royal St. George

Strictly Golf

Kungsholm Buffet (Ogden & Washington)

R & S Liquor

Crow's Nest Records

Parkview Pizza. Thowing peanut shells on the floor and watching black & white movies on the projector screen.

Erb Farm

Exploring Nike Park before the soccer & baseball fields were put up.

Sammy and Clusterbuster,
It's strange and disconcerting that you two are singling out a specific person in this post that has nothing to do with him. This is a fluff topic to take the edge off all the heated D204 discussions and here you go, cutting someone down. How is insulting a fellow poster raise the level of discourse here? I haven't lived in Naperville long, but I am constantly surprised at how petty and vicious some of the people are in here. We're all adults here, it's time to start acting like it.

easily the things i miss most, having lived in naperville since the mid 70's:

1) DOWNTOWN'S family-oriented, riverwalk, and small-town shops and feel before it was sold out to the corporate dollar and anyone who wanted a license to sell alcohol. now it is a drunken, yuppie beer-feast not fit for any family to visit. it truly is a shame.

2) RIB FEST before it became a run-away joke. it's planner's decided to serve the dollar instead of the community, and shame on city leaders for allowing them to do so. it is no longer even enjoyable to go. in fact, i would place a bet that the majority of the people who do go aren't from naperville. most napervillians have decided not to bother with it anymore.

both of these are great examples of the fact that bigger isn't always better, and neither is progress when focus is taken of what's important or desired in the end.

a couple of side notes:

mcdonals on ogden (near portillos) when they had the monkey in the cage

erb farm and their horses (really miss them)

the downtown naperville fire station

naperville sport shop downtown

I miss the civility and the friendliness that used to be so prevelent. It's a shame that some many now look to speak ill of others and use every excuse to defame and deride those that disagree with their thinking. Look at the terrible things being said in the Dist 204 fight about their new high school. People should be ashamed of behaving this way.

Amy S,

Thanks for the mammaries. As for Sammy & I we also reminisce about an earlier time where self-absorbed Hodapp types were less prevalent.

Andy's Popcorn. I think that's the line between old and new-if your Dad took you down there you're old Naperville. Right on J.V.

Paperback Paradise. Upstairs from Oswalds.

Broeckers and the nice old ladies upstairs in the scout section.

Moser Lumber and the scrap pile that any kid could raid for whatever they were building.

The old cow tunnel that ran under the tracks.

The Washington Jr. High at the top of the sledding hill instead of in the football field at the bottom.

Checking your bike tires at Mayor Zaininger's Sinclair.

Being a Redskin from Naperville Community High School.

I miss everything about old Naperville! ch - I'm from the East Highlands, too. It's heartbreaking to see all the teardowns there. (What's wrong with ranches and tri-levels? We survived!) Do you remember the knife sharpener guy who used to come around with his cart to sharpen scissors and knives? Anyone miss running out to play in the bug sprayer fog? How about the Summer Place when it was just a tent on the college field? I remember swimming at the Beach with fish in the water from the quarry. Did you ever do the "human chain" when someone was missing? Do they still do that? Did anyone detassle corn for PGA up on Ogden?

What a great thread for great memories. Thanks!

Moiderator Jim here: I think I might have deleted someone's post earlier today on this thread by accident. If you submitted a comment earlier and don't see it posted, please submit it again. Sorry, but I don't remember the name. Thanks.

Clusterbuster,

Just for my clarification, how is one pointing out that businesses are breaking the law self-absorbed? If you disagree with the ordinance, you could have gone to city hall meetings and stated your case. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you probably didn't. You'd rather complain and belittle then be pro-active and do something about the issues you care about.

Also, "mammaries?" Sounds like you're trying to dismiss my initial comment out of hand because I'm female. Lovely.

I'm a pretty new resident of Naperville but one of the first places I visited was that basement bookstore downtown. I think it was called Book Zeller's. It quickly closed, to my chagrin. What a treasure trove of great used books - you could browse for hours. I wonder what will go in there, if anything. A basement place with no windows isn't very desirable...but it was perfect for the books.

The list of things to miss is far to long to list. I hope that the city council is reading all of these posts and most of all the mayor. Not only is the downtown way overcrowded (especially in the summer), but you have an overwhelming police presence in squad cars and on bikes and probably a few flatfoots as well--it just has more of an overcrowded "police state" feel to it as opposed to a low keyed family friendly atmosphere. I think it makes kids wonder also. Don't even get me going on the total lack of parking and infrastructure. Every now and then going downtown for a meal or to walk around is ok, but I would go down there more often if it weren't such an expensive circus. As for the festivals (Ribfest, Fling), they no longer serve the community. They serve the Northern Illinois region. How fun is it when dad drops mom and the kids off at the Ribfest gate to go park the car and then get shut out himself because the venue is sold out by the time he parks and gets to the huge line at the gate--I know of several folks that this has happened to. Naperville does have much to offer, but the downtown and festivals are WAY OVERDONE. I think that there has been and will continue to be an increased backlash. Take a timeout on the massive growth for a few years and re-evaluate how you go forward. Everybody I know thinks that the Carrilon was a BIG waste. Instead of putting up what looks like a missile silo, they should have built a couple of parking decks. Everytime you drive into downtown on Chicago Ave. one is reminded just how much of a waste that eyesore has been. Like I said, I hope that city hall is reading all of these posts.

Hipsters....in downtown NAPERville!

In reference to........

By Sue Ellen on April 15, 2008 8:27 AM
To JB - I was one of those "hippies" that sat on the bridge! And the Sinclair station (that's where the Riverwalk fountain is now)was owned by Mayor Zaininger. The home Mr. Zaininger was born in has recently been torn down for a teardown; Gramma Zaininger's home was torn down shortly after she passed away (right next to the library) and what about the little bar across from the Beach.

Ah, those were the days!! Walking to town in our frayed suede leather coats, long jeans dragging behind us, braids wrapped around our foreheads, or just in our hair. Oh and the long hair on the guys. Halter tops and mid-drift shirts. Tight jeans. Remember laying down on the bed to zip your jeans? (ok, so we have to do it now for other reasons..HA).

Yes, I remember the house across from the beach. It was owned by Mrs. Webber (or Weber). I can't recall her first name. I think it started with a G.

There has been a lot of Naperville tear downs, my childhood home included. You can take away the homes, the businesses, and the people, but you can't take the memories.

Senior Moment, Do you remember when the feed store was right downtown by the fire house and the Chinese laundry. How about buying second hand iceskates at Rosie'shoe repair shop. Those were the "good old days."

I'm always amazed at how disgruntled some people are about Naperville and "what it's become". I guess it's okay to reminisce about the days of old, but there are some downright angry people that live in this town. I guess if I were that upset about the community I lived in I'd find one that better suits my needs and desires.

If the worst that us Napervillians have to worry about is how crowded Ribfest has become, well, I guess we're doing okay. I know the point of the thread was to state what you miss about the old Naperville. I am just surprised at how many do so with an angry tone.

One last note: To Taxpayer, I think your statement about downtown being a drunken yuppie beer feast "not fit for any family to visit" is outrageous. Naperville has a very active nightlife, yes, but your description is that of the strip in Las Vegas. Naperville is still very family oriented. Examples of that include Safety Town, The DuPage Children's Museum and the skate park near Centennial Beach. All of these things were absent from the Naperville that I grew up in and are wonderful improvements to the town.

Holy cow, I haven't been to this site in ages as I got tired of reading after the third Napergate post and tenth District 204 post. It's nice to see that my fan club is still in full force. I've even got someone stalking me at Subway it would seem. How cute, and delightfully passive aggressive. :D

Anyway, I think a lot of people here only remember the past through rose colored glasses. I've lived in Naperville for 25 years now, and remember a lot of the places that have been mentioned. I agree that the downtown area felt a lot more "small towny" when places like Oswalds and the meat market were still around, but as someone previously posted, businesses that exist over people being in and out in less than 5 minutes don't work when it takes you 10 minutes to park and 5 minutes to walk there, turning what would be a five minute stop in to a 30ish minute stop.

It's beyond me why places like The Olive Branch or Al's Italian Beef, both mentioned previously, weren't able to get some kind of special parking from the city. Why is Starbucks the only place that has been giving the gift of a couple 5 minute parking spots outside of their building? That's probably all it would have taken to keep the fast food and/or take out places alive in downtown Naperville.

I can't really get behind all of the complaining about how "corporate" Naperville has become now. Naperville is an expensive area, Washington Mutual's branch even closed their doors because they couldn't afford to stay in business down here. A bank can't afford a downtown Naperville lease. How do you think a mom and pop shop that isn't backed by millions of dollars of investors and public stock holdings could ever dream of opening their doors in downtown Naperville? Especially when you add in the overall state of today's economy, how much big box stores like Wal-Mart stomp out smaller competition, and everything else.

What is beyond amazing to me though is that the Sharper Image is closing. I couldn't possibly think of a better store to do great in downtown Naperville than a store selling premium high priced luxury junk which solve problems that only exist in Naperville. (For example, UGH! I have so many self winding watches I can't possibly keep them all going without this $300 gadget that rocks them back and forth for me!!!)

Fiddler's hamburgers and a beer.

neil--

the thread asked us to reminisce about things we missed. i don't miss safety town or the children's museum. i believe naperville still is a great place for kids for many reasons. many of which you mention along with the quality of schools. but make no mistake, downtown naperville is a joke compared to what it used to be and is no longer a place for the family to visit in the evening. i am not the only one who has expressed displeasure about what downtown naperville has become. i wasn't ripping on naperville, i love naperville. i have probably lived here longer than you and will continue to. its my home. but i do resent what our downtown has been allowed to become.

in the "old days" you used to take a family downtown on a nice summer evening and enjoy everything it had to offer from one end of the riverwalk to the other with a stop at oberweise dairy in the middle, after feeding the ducks and sitting on a park bench.

those days are long gone. downtown used to be quaint, with many small town, locally owned, mom and pop stores with a personal touch. now it is just big, unpersonalized business with overcrowded streets filled with rowdy people bar hopping, loud music, and a strong police presence to break up occasional fights and maintain control. that isn't the downtown we fell in love with.

it isn't even worth taking your kids near there. and if you do, it isn't nearly as fun or as good of an experience as it used to be. no its not the las vegas strip, but it certainly isn't focused on the family or family friendly. it used to be. that's the point.

i think many people who have lived in naperville for about 15 years or less see nothing wrong with downtown. that is because the way it is now is the only way they have known it. its transformation began in the early to mid 90's. those of us who are native to naperville or lived here all our lives or for 20 years or more and raised families here know a different downtown naperville and liked it better then.

save me the "get out of town if you don't like it" speach. i still love naperville. its my home, i love many things about it, but i miss downtown naperville when it was better for naperville and not a beer-mall for every young single adult within a 20 mile radius on a nightly basis. just think it is a shame what has happened to downtown.

So, Amy S the schoolmarm chimes in yet again.

Hodyapp is relevant to this discussion and our posts are on topic. Hodyapp is an example of a simpler time when the vast majority of folks were not self consumed with their own existence. If you go to Hodyapp’s website you will see that it is a virtual cornucopia of dribble about his mundane existence.

He even claims his 15 minutes of fame not for subjecting the city council, downtown businesses and residents to his rants but his appearance on Inside Edition where his claim to fame is finding a split second flash of the Mc Donald’s logo within a video segment of an “Iron Chef” video.

Perhaps in place of the yellow and red Mc Donald’s logo Hodyapp initially thought it was the hammer and sickle of the former Soviet Union. He was likely completely disappointed when he found time in between posting thousands of pictures of his cats, bathroom, stairway and a toy solider / Naperville diorama and countless other useless images to slow the tape segment and discover it was the logo for some evil, greedy, cholesterol pushing, global US based corporate entity.

With all his whining about downtown noise levels (which the City Council on Tuesday amended the current ordinance that limited noise level to 100 feet from an establishment to 300 feet) did he not consider that choosing to live in an apartment above a business in a business district could present a level of noise that might make a overly sensitive individual somewhat uncomfortable?

Hodyapp’s actions are somewhat engrained in our current culture, if something offends or is upsetting to one person out of a hundred everyone must conform to pacify the easily offended minority.

But other people having a good time outside of their own home socially is when Hodyapp wishes that the hammer & sickle were the flag of our country so his vision of a Stalinist freak show could be imposed on all residents of Naperville.

While it’s quite chivalrous to defend this abject recluse I believe that the two of you could find better uses of your time. Perhaps take up needlepoint, go for a walk, smile once in a while, laugh a bit, get a book on bugs and try identifying them, whatever floats your collectivist boats. Heavens to Murgatroid, GET OUT & LIVE A LITTLE.

What website are you talking about? Eli Hodapp's blog he links with his posts? Isn't the entire purpose of a personal blog to write about "dribble"? (I think you mean "drivel"?) I know my blog and online photo collection is filled with things that aren't interesting to anyone outside of my circle of friends... but that's the entire point.

The amount of research you've done on him is kind of eerie though, and weakens your argument that he should find a better use of his time. Maybe you should take a little bit of your own advice instead of cyber-stalking someone on the internet. I hope you don't find my online photo album! I'd hate to see you try to use the fact that I have a few photos of my dog and my recently renovated closet in some kind of argument against me.

Perhaps take up needlepoint, go for a walk, smile once in a while, laugh a bit, get a book on bugs and try identifying them, whatever floats your collectivist boat. Heavens to Murgatroid, GET OUT & LIVE A LITTLE.

...Or keep up the research for your Eli Hodapp biography, I'm sure it will be a best seller just like Ameena's Napergate book she's working on.

Hodyapp's bio is far too boring for any publisher to produce.

Tim, Hodyapp, Amy S. and the bunch should get together and have a hootenanny, which sounds like it would be just a knee slapping good time. You could call Skeeter and Spanky and just sit in Hodyapp’s place and look out his window and complain about all the peeps having a good time and conspire on how to throw a wrench in the works.

Gone from Naperville: It's hard earned reputation as "one of the best" places to live in the nation.

As many of you know, earning the valuable distinction of being one of the best places to live came with long effort by the works of many dedicated to our great town - schools, churches, businesses, local government, etc. As such, we have been well noted many times in the news programs, newspapers and other prominent publications.

But this many not be a distinction we have much longer. This is primarily due to the divisiveness cause between neighbors which has been provoked by an August 2009 racing school board which has broken promises, trust, cut corners, ignored questions by concerned parents and taxpayers and avoided more complete due diligence to build a 3rd high school of our precious teens.

It's time for the silent majority who has not spoken, the mayor, and other local and state officials to intervene.

From the sounds of it in the news, papers and online gatherings, the current D204 is ignoring what the majority wants in favor of please their own agenda and the minority which stand to benefit from a new school being built. Build a school but don't race recklessly to build it by Aug 2009.

Please think about getting involved. We all stand to loose - KIDS and adults - if we are noted for our recklessness towards taxpayers in the news vs. as "one of the best" places for families to settle.

God bless you!

What did Eli Hodapp do aside from just pointing out a law which was being broken and was completely unenforced? I have to hand it to him, it takes guts to stand up in front of city council and put your name out there when he could have just as easily done this all anonymously leaving children like Clusterbuster no one to blame for the police enforcing a law.

umm......I think I tuned into the wrong station. I thought this was about what we - those of us who have lived here long enough, i.e. way before the cat leash law that made national news - miss most about the Naperville of old. What I miss about old Naperville, is that it wasn't filled with judgmental people, like the ones who have some weird need to chime in on a blog like this. I don't see any anger here, Neil, except from people who don't share the fond memories of growing up here. Thanks to taxpayerm for putting it so succintly.

Hey Lloyd,

Perhaps Hodyapp should run for orifice and you could be his assistant?

Clusterbuster wrote:

"Hodyapp's bio is far too boring for any publisher to produce."

Well, YOU seem to find it exciting enough, so I'm guessing it would sell at least one copy.

I miss Tasty Bakery! I miss a "real" cafe like Wilma's. And, I miss perusing the Book Zeller and stopping in at the knitting store. Now I go to Downers Grove where they have a bakery, a cafe and a knit shop (and no chains) all on Main Street. Just like Naperville use to be a long, long time ago.

Yum, those Subway sandwiches are real good.

Moderator Jim to Sammy the Bull: Actually, I just now finished a Subway sandwich (6 incher, not a foot long). They're not bad at all.

Question for John Q Public, are you in the second grade?

So Moderator Jim, were you also stalking Eli Hodapp at Subway?

Hodyapp should have considered that living above a business in a area with commercial zoning would very likely be noisy, but of course he would rather play the hapless victim. He should move to Nebraska were he can live all by himself and he can then complain about sporadic cow flatulence, chirping birdies and crickets.

I stand by my statements.

Those who wish to create fervor and insert themselves into the debate by promoting their views in a public forum are open to scrutiny especially when it is due to ignorance or some unhealthy need for public attention.

Answer for Clusterbuster: No, I am NOT one of your classmates.

taxpayerm:

A) I fully understood the point of the thread and even acknowledged that in my post.

B) I have lived here for 30 years so I have indeed witnessed the transformation of Naperville.

C) I will save my "get out of town speech" when others stop exagerating about what downtown Naperville has become.

I think it's perfectly fine to reminisce about they way things used to be. I just don't understand why some do so with such anger. That was the point of my post.

Eli: As for Sharper Image....... if they haven't already I believe that they are getting ready to file bankruptcy which I am sure is the reason why they are closing their downtown store.

Clusterbuster, the only one doing any "public scrutiny" here is you, and your "debate" is doing little more than making you look like a kicking and screaming child over someone having the gall to disagree with you in pointing out an unenforced law. If your neighbor was illegally burning leaves and filling your house with smoke, would you call the police or pack your bags and move to Nebraska?

Besides, don't you have blogs to inspect or photos to dig through? Where do you find time to post on here constantly with your rigorous schedule of cyber sleuthing?

Your obsession seems a little unhealthy. :(

neil

im not angry about it. i think its common for things written to come across more blunt or cold than they would if they were spoken because you can't hear the tone in my voice speaking.

it is just a real shame, and im disappointed in the leaders of our city who did nothing to stop, or even helped the transformation.

i think we, as a community, have lost sight of ourselves and whats important in some ways. over and over again on this blog and throughout our city and it's media we tout and brag about how great a place this is to raise kids and how family oriented it is. for the most part it is true. but at times hypocritical. downtown being one example.

it is no longer geared toward or set up to serve a family environment. it is set up for and geared towards typically younger, single people who are still at a point in their life where they think partying every night is whats important. that is who our downtown are serves the best. our downtown attracts young adults from miles and miles around from dozens of neighboring cities in the name of partying. not to mention the side effects it brings that further disrupts our family oriented city. (drunk driving, street fights, accidents and police overtime to mention a few) and, of course, this was all done in the name of the mighty dollar and increasing our tax revenue. but to what cost?

we lead the world in drunk driving. is it safe for our families that we have so many intoxicated drivers on our streets? cudos to the npd for catching so many, but what percentage do you think they actually catch. shouldn't we do something to stop drunken driving on our city streets by limiting the amount of alcohol we sell and the number of bars we have? or, in some way, eliminate the opportunity for people to be so reckless in our city?

i would love to see our city leaders take a stand and reclaim the downtown area for our families. especially if it wants to continue to brag about how great a family community we are. if we are going to brag about it we should do something to back it up. being family oriented is about more than safety town, children museums and good schools. it is also about making our streets and environment as safe as possible and doing what we can to fight drunk driving and irresponsible drinking.

in my opinion safety town or the childrens museum doesn't offset the stark contrast created by allowing a downtown environment similar to division street in chicago and then loading our streets with drunk drivers in the name of larger tax revenue. lets give downtown back to the citizens of naperville and our families and let those who want to party go to a neighboring city, or stay in their own city, and drive drunk on their streets.

I have been watching Naperville "evolve" for thrity years. It started as a quaint up and comer that was a fun place to visit. Farms were still part of the mix. It wasn't so long ago that the old farmhouse at Rte 59 and North Aurora was torn down.
The stores change in all towns, it's just the way life rolls along. The saddest part about watching this town change is the emmigration of all the "founders". Those folks who had roots in the town. The fabric that made the garment so nice. It's not all lost. We shouldn't just throw it all away. If the newer residents occasionally reflect on what was here before, who was here before, the values those people had, then there might be a touch of hope for them.

As for downtown, after 9pm it's a great way to glimpse the future of naperville. If you can stomach it.

Back to memories:
- Nichol's Library on Washington
- The ice cream socials at the Band Shell during the Thursday night band concerts.
- learning to swim in the ORIGINAL pool at the YMCA (all 10 yards or so of it)
- Having the City Conference Championship Swim meet at Maplebrook I (when Maplebrook 1 WON!) ...and the lifeguards... Tom Miers, Judy Lehman (now Busse). - for those with really specific memories: OTIS in the surge tank at Maplebrook 1.
- exploring the 'caves' in the walls at the Centennial Beach....and hiding under the piers during the safety break.
- 75th street as the southern edge of Naperville
- ushering under the tent at the Summer Place
- Parkview Pizza and the silent movies! (Later...Oodles in the same place)
- A&W and Dog & Suds drive-ins on Ogden Ave
- Standing in a line that stretched nearly to Washington to see a new release at the Naper Theater (Jaws!)
- The Monkey at the Buikema's Ace Hardware in downtown Naperville (where Features is today)
- Ice Skating at the rink on Washington (where Mid America Bank is)
- The old Edward Hospital building (two tear-downs ago)
- NCHS Redskins!
- Cock Robin, Burger King (with the King sitting on a burger sign out front)
- Three grocery stores downtown: National on Jefferson across fro m the fire station (later CeeBee's), and Mr Value and A&P side by side.
- Sports Bowl, Beidelman Furniture, Bev Patterson's Piano & Organ, The Fabric Inn, and Sears downtown on Washington.
- Shopping for school gym uniforms at Broekers Deparment Store
- Trying to find ANYTHING (and everything) at Soukups hardware
- Grants, Jewel, and Alton Drugs in Naper Plaza. ...and the old gas station there.
- The (scary) old wooden bridge over the train tracks on Columbia
- The Swap Shop at the corner of Ogden and Columbia
- The full page picture on the front page of the Naperville Sun each week
- The nightly siren from the firestation (6:00 pm??)
- The old guy that rode around town on his tricycle sharpening knives every summer
- Looking at new cars through the windows of the dealerships downtown...Netzley's Chrysler & American Motors at Chicago Ave & Washington...Kohler Dodge on Main (later the NEW Tasty Bakery).....Village Pontiac further north on Washington.