This New Illinois Development Will Be the Ultimate Eat-and-Play Destination

Illinois just got a major upgrade in the suburban fun department, and no, it's not another strip mall with three mattress stores. A massive new development in Naperville is turning heads, emptying wallets, and making Rockford day-trippers hungry.

Block 59 is Bringing the Yum (and Fun) to Naperville

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A decades-old shopping center in Naperville is getting a glow-up so major, it might just become a new favorite destination. The $53 million redevelopment project, called Block 59, will turn the area around Route 59 and Aurora Avenue into a buzzing dining and entertainment hub, according to recent news from NBC Chicago.

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We're talking 10+ new restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Velvet Taco, First Watch, Stan's Donuts, and more. Some spots, like Shake Shack, are already open and flipping burgers. The 8,700-square-foot Cheesecake Factory, which should be just big enough to fit the giant menu through the front door, opens on June 17.

Not Just Restaurants—It's a Whole Vibe

This isn't just about stuffing our faces (though, obviously, yes). Block 59 will feature an open-air plaza, upgraded walkways, new restaurant patios, LED lighting, and public gathering spaces for events. Basically, it's Instagram-friendly and maybe a little stretch-pant approved.

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The existing retailers aren't going anywhere either—The Fresh Market, Ulta Beauty, Hollywood Palms Cinema, and the Wayfair Outlet are holding it down while the new spots move in.

Imagine a development like this in Rockford... yeah, we'll wait. But hey, planning a day trip, or even an overnight, to Naperville suddenly sounds pretty necessary.

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Pack some patience (and maybe a bib), because Block 59 is shaping up to be the perfect day-away adventure. And yes, your car will probably drive itself there once it hears "Velvet Taco."