Senior Lyla Pomeroy, a hostess at Napolita, enjoys her job more when outdoor seating is available because of the warm weather, fresh air and better vibes.
“I think adding [outdoor dining] creates for more business opportunities for the restaurant and kind of just creates [a] more welcoming environment,” Pomeroy said.
According to Jojo Hebl, Village Trustee and Chair of Northbrook’s Planning & Economic Development Committee, Northbrook’s Downtown Improvement Project 2025, a construction project scheduled for completion by the end of June, intends to create more outdoor seating, improve sidewalks, extend the downtown walking path and biking path area and remove raised curbs around trees.
“My hope would be that [the] community would appreciate the investment, that it would be a source of pride, and that people would enjoy being in [downtown Northbrook],” Hebl said.
According to Napolita general manager Zach Grmick, his biggest concern regarding the construction’s effect on Napolita has been customer uncertainty about whether the restaurant is open.
“There was definitely struggles a couple times because the whole road has been shut off, so customers [were] just irritated on finding parking and not knowing whether we’re open or not, so a lot of more phone calls [asking] if we are open,” said Grmick. “We had to put up signs saying, ‘Sorry for the construction, we are open.’”
Despite customer confusion, Grmick believes the construction is necessary, he said.
“There’s things that need to be done, [I] definitely understand that, and the inconvenience of what [the village needs] to do is just kind of the give and take of the potential that the improvements are going to make it better,” said Grmick.
According to Hebl, she believes that improvements are necessary because downtown Northbrook is a focal point of the community.
“We’re always competing against other neighborhoods, other communities, to get residents to move here, and we want people to say, ‘Northbrook is the place I want to move … ,” said Hebl. “I think if your focal point looks tired and dilapidated and not well cared for, that’s not going to appeal to people that want to move here.”
According to Grmick, when he first started working as the general manager at Pescadero Seafood & Oyster Bar in downtown Wilmette prior to his time at Napolita, downtown Wilmette was not yet a destination, but construction turned it into one, and he believes a similar transformation is possible in Northbrook.
“Now, downtown Wilmette is thriving,” said Grmick. “They have more businesses there. It’s definitely a destination for people to go to compared to when I first started in Wilmette. [The downtown area prior to construction] was kind of what it is here in Northbrook.”
Pomeroy has been to downtown Wilmette with her family a few times and appreciated the outdoor seating, stores and dining opportunities.
“I like towns like Wilmette and like Glencoe and Highland Park because I just feel like there’s more to do in those downtown areas and there’s more shopping opportunities and options for places to eat,” said Pomeroy. “I feel like I look at [those towns as] more of a mini city than a town, which I think is nice, and I think if downtown Northbrook were to expand more, that would make it more attractive to people.”