Batavia Boardwalk Shops Seek Tenants For 2025 Season

BATAVIA, IL — The start of a new season of the Batavia Boardwalk Shops is less than six months away, and organizers are searching for the 10 businesses wanting to participate in the program's sixth season.

Business owners who want to propel their concepts can take over one of the tiny shops located in a cluster at the southeast corner of Wilson and River Streets in downtown Batavia. The sixth season will open May 9 and operate at least every Friday through Sunday until Dec. 21.

Each of the Boardwalk Shops measures 12 feet by 12 feet, and rent is $3,000 for the season, plus a $500 security deposit. Applications for the spaces are due by Jan. 10.

By renting a shop, business owners can showcase their goods and services and learn how to manage a store successfully. Over the last five years, 21 businesses that participated in the program moved to permanent locations, according to Batavia MainStreet, the program's organizer. Ten are currently occupying brick-and-mortar spaces in downtown Batavia.

"This season we've had visitors from 200 unique zip codes shop the Boardwalk," Batavia MainStreet Assistant Director Kristen Desler said in a statement. "...We are looking for unique vendors to add variety to our existing downtown retail."

Once applications close at the end of January, a jury committee will review all submissions, keeping vendor diversity in mind, officials said. Previous Boardwalk businesses can reapply but are not guaranteed a shop.

Business owners with questions about the Boardwalk Shops can check the Batavia MainStreet website, email info@downtownbatavia.com or call 630-761-3528.