Growth of Central Street 'East' is Exciting for All

Evanston residents and officials are proud of their bustling business districts. There’s always been something happening on Main Street, Dempster Street, the Noyes Street corridor and on Central Street, west of the Metra tracks.

But the activity on the other side of the tracks, east from Poplar Street to Ridge Avenue, is what’s coming back. And according to those who do business there, it’s stronger than ever.

The “Central Street East” district had been the place to be for decades during the latter half of the 20th Century. Anchored by a pair of theaters on the south side of the street just west of Eastwood where Ten Mile House and a Coldwell Banker’s office now sits, the area attracted residents from throughout the region since the next closest major movie theatre was in Skokie.

“There was quite a bit of traffic here, but other than the theaters, nothing really noteworthy in terms of other stores,” said Hank Welch, whose family has owned two apartment buildings on the block for more than 70 years.

The area seemed to be “a magnet” for business offices, medical offices and other retail shops with limited clientele.

“Up until a couple years ago, I would consider it a dead block,” said Welch, who did note Hilthie’s, a furniture store, had a good 30+-year run on Central Street with a loyal backing.

Welch says that was mainly due to the “barrier” of Green Bay Road.

“Not a lot of people wanted to fight the traffic to get to the other side of the tracks.”

Kate Noble, Welch’s daughter who is a store manager at Beth’s Little Bake Shop - one of the street’s newest businesses - remembers the same.

“There were no restaurants, just Mustard’s (Last Stand), which has been there for years,” she said. “There were a lot more vacant spaces and other than commuters, no traffic at all.”

That would have accurately described the block up until just a couple years ago. But enter popular restaurant Ten Mile House, the Evanston Art Center and a rise of local “mom and pop” stores, and you have a block filled with activity.

“We are sort of the hottest block in Evanston right now,” said Bob Danon, an artist and owner of The Danon Gallery. Danon moved his business to what he calls “Central Street East” five years ago from Wilmette.

“One reason may be Ten Mile, but we have other great businesses going up and the Evanston Art Center is really the crem dela crem of all of this.”

Danon also notes the change in parking opportunities on the block, and how now business owners on the street do not park in the spaces there in order to leave as many open as possible for shoppers.

“If you work on the street it’s important that you don’t park on the street,” said Danon, who says more and more of his fellow Central Street business owners and employees have begun to park elsewhere.

“The block has become much more vibrant,” Welch added. “Stores like Perennials have moved over here from the west side of Central Street, which has much higher rents.”

The theaters occupying space and paying rent for a number of years after their closure delayed the street’s comeback, Welch said.

“They were paying rent, but not showing movies, which really did nothing for the area,” he said, adding that there is only one vacant storefront on the block currently, a former transmission business, and Bluestone restaurant owner John Enright is attempting to add another eatery to the block at that location.

It might actually be Bluestone, according to Evanston Ald. Jane Grover, whose seventh ward includes Central Street.

“From what I’ve heard, he is taking the next steps to try and bring Bluestone to Central Street, and open a Mexican restaurant where Bluestone is now,” said Grover, who is just as excited as the local business owners on the transformation of Central Street.

“We have a strong Central Street Business Association and Ten Mile is going gangbusters,” she said. “There’s a proposal out for a fitness franchise, Beth’s Little Bake Shop has added some buzz, there’s Berglund Animal Hospital and Perennials is doing well at their new location on the other side of the tracks.”

The Evanston Art Center brings “such as lively, vibrant presence” that “it’s hard to imagine they were once on a lonely house on the lake.”

“People have been delighted to see its windows, and the activities going on behind its windows,” Grover said. 

Transforming the block into what it is now hits home for Ten Mile House owner Robert LaPata, who said the goal is to return the block to “where it was 25-30 years ago.”

“I grew up on the North Shore. Central Street east was where you went to see a movie and to hang out,” LaPata said. “With the theaters leaving, it had been a bit dormant, so we wanted to bring it back as a destination spot on the North Shore.”

In just one year of business at Ten Mile, LaPata said “it’s an exciting time” to see what has come already, and what is going to come down the road.

“We are exciting about new things, and are honored to be a part of it.”

Welch also gives credit to a 48-unit apartment complex that recently went up in the 1600 block of the street.

“The real estate was the key - but the Arts Center replacing a dialysis place was also big,” he said. “We used to have all of these medical buildings, and now there is only one.”

In other words, a block with a lot more fun.

“Three years ago you didn’t have to worry about parking on the block, but now if you get a space you are lucky.”

Grover also noted the transit-oriented Central Street apartments development, calling it “a catalyst” for a more vibrant area.

Danon’s excitement has led to the suggestion the area be branded on its own.

“Central Street East,” he said. “We are part of the whole, but different.”

“We may not have the number of stores (as the other side of the tracks), but we want to be recognized and people are starting to get it.”

Photo by Bob Danon