If Downtown Naperville Charges for Parking, Will they Continue to Come?

I’ve been observing the ongoing debate regarding the history behind free parking in downtown Naperville and the future funding of additional parking as the allure of the Naperville experience continues to expand.

In the 1970’s, downtown decided to battle back against the rise of indoor shopping malls and strip malls with ample parking by keeping parking free in downtown.  Today, downtown Naperville has survived and thrived amidst the glut of strip malls which stripped away the attraction of downtowns across America in the 70s.

Some suggest that downtown is a strong enough destination to sustain present levels of economic activity while implementing paid parking to fund the additional structures which are needed.  Others turn to the new food and beverage tax which would allow an additional 1% to be added if the majority of downtown restaurants agree.  Still others suggest that restaurants should not be left to shoulder the burden as there are many downtown offices and businesses that occupy parking spaces all day long. 

Today I offer another angle to be considered which perhaps holds the answer to the dilemma.  We must ask residents and visitors alike who frequent downtown Naperville to determine their tolerance for paid parking and the amount they might be willing to pay in maintaining their regular visits.  If we discover, via interviews and survey research, that paid parking would be a deterrent to trips downtown, the answer and potential risk may become very clear.

   

Naperville Riverwalk Back to Normal After Flooding, but Video Chronicles Waterlogged Weekend

While we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the waters have receded from the lower portion Riverwalk after a week of rain, it’s amazing to see what this Naperville landmark looked like just a couple of short days ago.  For those who did not venture downtown over the weekend, here’s a video montage of what you missed.

Portions of Naperville Riverwalk Become…Well…Simply a River After Week of Rain and Flooding

After a week of rain, severe thunderstorms and subsequent flooding, the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville doesn’t quite look like itself today.  My son and I spent a sunny afternoon today in downtown walking along the waterlogged Riverwalk and watching the rushing waters of the DuPage River reclaim a portion of the scenic path through downtown as the river rises.  As you can see by the picture above, my son didn’t quite know what to make of the situation as he is used to running in endless circles around the Riverwalk’s outdoor ampitheater.

Below you will find a series of pictures I took which will give you an idea of exactly how much the river has risen over the past couple of days.  In addition, I captured quite a bit of video which I intend to edit and post as still pictures don’t quite do justice to the extraordinarily fast-moving rapids of flooded DuPage river.

 

To those of you who have read my previous postings about the Riverwalk, I couldn’t help but show what has become of my favorite spot to relax and read. 

 

Notice how close the water has risen underneath the Eagle Street bridge.  Also, look along both banks of the river and see the submersed lightpoles along the Riverwalk.  The good news is at least the water has not reached the city building.

The sand volleyball courts between the skate park, baseball fields and Jacycees playground has become a reflection pond.

If you plan to bring your children down to see the spectacle while the Riverwalk is still flooded, I encourage you to be extremely careful as the water is deep and swift moving.  Even more, the manner in which the DuPage has crept up onto the banks could had brought it dangerously close to the main Riverwalk path.  An accidental stumble down the shortened hill could sweep anyone into the waters.  Again, be very careful.

Though our hard-working City of Naperville crew will have a mess on their hands once the water recedes,  the Riverwalk should be back to normal in no time at all.  Based on stories I’ve heard, this is certainly not the worst flooding the Riverwalk has seen.  To our city crew, we send our deepest thanks and appreciation in advance for the work ahead.  

Naperville-Based Lima Lima Flight Team Shines During 2007 Chicago Air & Water Show

Each year, as my work travel schedule permits, I always head down to North Avenue Beach on the Friday before the annual Chicago Air & Water Show to beat the crowds and watch the practice-phase of the full program.  To anyone who hates crowds, I strongly recommend taking advantage of the Friday practice as you will see the entire show, and more, at a small margin of the crowd.

This year, I felt somewhat guilty having enjoyed such ideal weather conditions and clear skies during the Friday session given the poor weather on Saturday and Sunday.  

Of the many breathtaking aircraft and flight teams on display, it will come as no surprise to my readers that I always look forward to the Lima Lima flight team, which is based out of Aero Estates here in Naperville.  To those of us who live near Aero Estates, the shiny yellow color of the Lima Lima T-34s are quite familiar to the skies over Naperville.  It’s thrilling to have such a skilled flight team based out of our community.  I’ve posted a video clip from their Friday performance to share with the world the grace and precision of the Lima Lima flight team.

Below is a list of the current roster of members of the Lima Lima Flight Team:

Bill “Fingers” Cherwin (Naperville, IL)

Ed “Outlaw” Hicks (St. Charles, IL)

John “Ripper” Rippenger (Schaumburg, IL)

Jim “Bullet” Martin (Naperville, IL)

Stan “The Man” Robinson (Glen Ellyn, IL)

Gary “20 Won Don” Donovan (Lake City, FL)

Skip “Scooter” Aldous (Lake City, FL)

Lou “Cool” Drendel (Venice, FL)

Brian “Digger” McCann (Downers Grove, IL)

Scott “Painless” Sayre (Cincinnati, OH… love that Skyline Chili)

Rick “Knuckles” Nichols (Daytona Beach, FL)

Tim “Squeaks” Cherwin (Naperville, IL)

David “Dolly Bondo” Bond (Chicago, IL)

If you would like to learn more about the Lima Lima flight team, visit their website at www.limalima.com .  To the members of the Lima Lima Flight Team who may happen to read this posting, the publisher of the World of Naperville would never turn down the opportunity, if offered, to fly in a T34 and document via video for the World of Naperville and larger world to see.  Keep up the great work!  SM

  

The Future Dimensions of Community Participation and Volunteerism

While skeptics might argue that many parts of our world are becoming increasingly disconnected and irrelevant as the societal dust continues to settle here in the information-saturated internet age, I believe the ongoing evolution of technology will yield expanded interactive opportunities to not only communicate but also to engage in collaborative participation and volunteer our time in ways and at levels which seemed previously inconceivable.

What is social media you ask?  social media, also sometimes referred to as web version 2.0, is the ever-expanding host of internet-based technologies designed to foster two-way interactive online communication between those with uniquely shared interests.  MySpace, Facebook, Second Life, blogs, wikis, text messaging, Linked In, eVite and Meetup are all examples of popular social media technologies.

Using the World of Naperville as an example, this blog has provided not only a source of information but a point of connection between those with either a passion or mere curiosity about our community.  Interaction has taken the form of comments, email exchanges and many face-to-face meetings which have resulted from the online dialogue.  Given the fact I work outside of our community yet have a strong passion for Naperville and orientation toward community activism, this social media tool has not only enabled me to participate in and facilitate dialogue regarding community issues but has also allowed me to make connections with others ranging from local leaders to individuals living on the other side of the country looking to move to the area.

By no means do I consider myself to be what many would call a “digital native”.  I grew up just like many of you in a world of electric typewriters rather than PCs (my dad had two manual Royal typewriters).   I consider myself to be a digitial immigrant or someone who has proactively embraced technology in seeing the evolving mainstream possibilities which will continue to advance our society.   

While many may be quick to dismiss these technologies as a pastime for younger generations, introverts and frightening predators, the new frontier of social media itself is in its infancy and growing up rapidly each and every day.  As a society, we have yet to realize the full potential and application of social media in our traditional mainstream lives.  Largely, I believe social media technology is not as “otherworldly” as it may seem, but rather a new and innovative spin on traditional communication norms and practices.

While the corporate world has attempted to lead the charge in “owning” and leveraging new interactive technologies largely for marketing purposes, the true value of the social media world belongs to any critical mass of people with uniquely shared interests looking to not only engage in meangingful interactive discussion but also to participate in the advancement of thought and activity in the realm of their shared area of interest.  In essence, social media is all about volunteer social participation. 

To realize the true potential of the social internet medium in terms of community participation requires shifting the current paradigm of participation in the minds of community leaders and residents alike.  Further, it may provide some comforting reassurance to understand that social media, by design, could be considered ”bridge” technology for it’s potential to transition the online world into traditional face-to-face interaction and participation.  Social media will also continue to remove the traditional cost and barriers of participation in opening up opporutnities to a larger pool of those looking to engage, interact and participate in either the online realm or in person.

Why is participation so important?  The success of Naperville is rooted in the success of its people.  Participation represents a personal investment which instills a sense of belonging/engagement which can ultimately lead to a high degree of loyalty and activism.  As you will recall from previous postings along this same subject line here at the World of Naperville, its the people and the inclusive nature of participation which creates a powerful and memorable experience and comprises the heart and soul of any community.

As next generation versions of social media and internet technology continue to evolve and utilization expands, I encourage all for-profit and not-for-profit organizations within Naperville or any community of like-minded people to see the potential this communication medium represents on a local, regional, national and even global scale.

More to come… SM

     

          

Community Evangelism in Naperville… It’s Not What You Might Think

When it comes to hiring outstanding customer service-oriented employees, “attitude” is often more important than “aptitude”.  Mainly because most business processes and tasks can be taught, while attitude cannot.

Over the weekend, I attended a session presented by Jackie Huba, a thought leader and author who has focused on the rise of mainstream social media and viral marketing.  Two books you might consider purchasing and reading are “Customer Evangelism” and “Citizen Marketer”. 

Customer evangelism is the process by which ordinary people transform themselves into powerful activist marketers as a result of either passion or disappointment for a certain product/service/business and access to social media outlets by which to engage and broadcast their love or disgust for their product or brand.

When I think of Naperville and consider the theories advanced by Jackie Huba, one fundamental point she misses is the fact that customer evangelism starts with solid employee evangelism.  To succeed in building a buzzworthy customer service culture, you need to have great people on the front line who will shape the experience and leave a lasting impression on your customers.  Look for true believers in what you do and the customer-base you serve.  

Naperville, as a whole, is a big brand in and of itself.  As residents, employees and business owners, we all have the opportunity to be community evangelists.  As I’ve addressed in previous posts, we all play a role in shaping the Naperville experience. 

One point I always stress to my member service team is the reality that the person you are talking to, reading an email from or standing face-to-face with may be the 100th person you’ve encountered that day.  But for the individual on the other side, it may be the only time they ever reach out to connect with you, your business or your city.  It’s what I call a moment of truth and we all have the power in our hands to make or break that moment. 

So the next time an unfamiliar face crosses your path or walks into your business, think of what it will mean to them in terms of reinforcing the positive image of Naperville in going out of your way to make that person feel welcome in our community or at your business.  Remember, how you make them feel is what will always matter the most. 

Just Back from the American Society of Association Executives 2007 Annual Meeting

For those of you who may be wondering why it’s been a few days since my last post, I spent the last four days in downtown Chicago at the 2007 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) 2007 Annual Meeting.  ASAE is the professional society for association executives across the country and around the world.    

Though I’m uncovering from the meeting having served as both a speaker and attendee,  I will have many thoughts and perspectives to share based upon the overall experience.  Aside from the dialouge and trends relating to my industry, I related a good deal of the thought leadership and education to our own situation here in Naperville as we forge a direction toward our own future.

For now, I need to get some rest as it’s back to work tomorrow.  More to come from my the scribbled pages of my meeting notebook in the coming days.    

Will Downtown Naperville Growth Keep Pace with Growing Expectations?

“Experience is mediated by expectation” 

George Aguel, Senior Vice President, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Earlier today I was browsing through notes from a conference I attended a couple of months ago as both a presenter and participant.  I came across a scribbled note taken from comments which were made by George Aguel, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.  I had the great pleasure to meet George and as a result of some post conference dialogue, he read a few of my blog postings about the Napeville experience and admitted it peaked his curiosity about one day paying a visit to our community.     

I’ve written allot about the Naperville experience here at the World of Naperville and when I heard this comment I recall making an immediate connection with my own thoughts about the allure of our community, especially downtown.

Naperville is, in itself, a unique out-of-the-ordinary experience.  Given the continous accolades and buzz about our community, we’ve emerged not only as a unique destination but one which will continue to carry increasingly higher expectations by visitors and residents alike.  Delivering the alluring experience of Naperville will continue to be measured by the degree to which our community satisfies the high expectations of residents and visitors alike.  

Through all of the recent dialogue about the new Naper Main development and downtown business mix, there is another dimension which I feel compelled to offer up for consideration.  If the guiding “value proposition” of downtown Naperville is that our community is a great place to shop and dine, we stand to potentially lose ground and diminsh the experience by disappointing expectations.  The fact is, Naperville is a terrific place to shop and dine, but that in itself will not be enough to maintain our competitive advantage in the future as so many other suburbs are attempting to emulate our model.

 Like WDW, the true value of Naperville which seperates it from other communities is the “experience”… the ability to escape from the pressures of life’s stresses, to be inspired, to renew the spirit, to reconnect with one’s self and others, to recharge and to be moved by the symphony of the senses which comes together through the people, history, amenties, places and natural settings which comprise our community.

Naperville is in a class all of its own and I join so many others in hoping it will continue to stay that way.  With that said, I offer it up to my readers to consider building upon the vision of the Riverwalk, historic preservation, unique recreation, natural space, world class events and more to create the next layer of the Naperville experience.

It may come as no suprise to some that I believe quite strongly the continued expansion, cultivation, support and promotion of the daily arts is a big piece to this puzzle.  I envision Naperville being a place where the expectation is that no matter which day you head into downtown, there are unique arts performances, exhibitions and opporutunities to experience… to participate… and to be moved by.  I see an increase in the visible presence of innovative arts space for both exhibition and creative expression to capture the heart and enlighten the soul.  I see an expansion of resident arts organizations, working together to strengthen the foundation, offerings and buzz behind the unique arts experiences which will be found in Naperville.  I see a level of arts innovation which you will be hard pressed to find in other communities.  I see Naperville as a destination for the arts with a regional, national and even global reach.      

“People” are also a big link to the future Naperville experience.  George spoke of WDW’s success not in terms of attractions and resorts, but the proven fact that WDW’s success is built upon their people… the cast members of WDW who try to make all who visit a special part of the magic… especially the tiniest of Disney World guests.  This fact is reinforced each and every day at WDW by the thousands (yes, thousands) of post-vacation letters they receive which sing the praises not of Pirates of the Carribean or Test Track, but of Disney cast members and how their vacation experience was made magical by all the special treatment.

As WDW’s success has taught us, people are willing to sacrifice and pay a premium to participate and be part of a unique experience.  Ironically, the level of service and personal treatment usually makes or breaks the experience regardless of how stimulating or interesting the surrounding environment happens to be.  I think we’ve all had these types of experiences, mainly because it is very difficult to achieve a broad-based and consistent level of service.  However, when strong service standards are achieved with a strong level of clear passion and commitment, the magic of the experience comes alive.   

Being from the South, I learned a thing or two about genuine hospitality that warms the soul and connects with the spirit.  My mother was a small town southern woman who “never met a stranger” in her life.  Though she passed away ten years ago this month, I’ll never forget her warm spirit and the way she treated everyone she crossed paths with.  As kids, we always dreaded the inevitable stop at the grocery store in which my mother assured us she just needed to run in for milk and bread.  Typically, by the time she was finished with her many conversations an hour would have passed by.   

How does this translate to downtown Naperville?  I envision an army of special ambassadors who are assigned to different areas of downtown during busy times and whose sole job is to greet people, snap pictures of families, tell them more about the Naperville story, answer questions and offer recommendations on things to do.  These individuals could also be trained to give some extra special attention to the most important Naperville visitors/residents of all…. the little ones.

Many of us already take the opportunity to greet and talk with residents and visitors alike around downtown and along the Riverwalk. 

These are some ideas to consider as the debate continues over the continued evolution of the Naperville experience.  We owe a great debt of gratitude to the energy and vision of our community’s leaders and legends past and present.  We must not become complacent by our community’s success.  We must answer the visionary call to remain creatively inspired in building new layers of uniqueness and unexpected experiences into our world class community so that residents and visitors alike can continue to escape into the inspirational, renewing powers and warmth that is our Naperville.      

    

Competition, Marketplace Strategy and Alternative Solution for Downtown Naperville’s Business-Mix Debate

After receiving record hits, a couple of comments, email and even a phone call regarding my attempt to gauge Napervillians concerns over the future of downtown Naperville’s business mix, I’ve been giving the whole situation additional thought over the past couple of days.  Below is a reply I made to a comment I recieved from John M. Gallagher.  John’s original comment can be found at the bottom of my recent “Concerned about the Future of Downtown Naperville’s Business Mix?” posting.     

In my mind, to keep the competitive edge in preserving Naperville’s unique position, we must continue to be proactive as a community on both a public and private level in forging partnerships to study and analyze the evolving needs and interests of visitors and residents alike so that we can  make the right choices for our future. 

The good news is downtown Naperville has a strong degree of allure given our size and demographics.  The community is in a strong position to foster cooperation in being more selective given the needs and desires of our marketplace.   

If we turn our backs and let opportunities slide past us in allowing downtown to price itself out of reach for most new, unique and interesting enterprises as well as the average consumer demographic, we run the risk of losing our allure. 

As a marketing professional, the practice of market research and product development is an essential and evolutionary process.  The goal is to ensure that the entity and marketplace offerings continue to maintain a strong degree of relevancy and alignment with target audiences. 

In simpler terms, the connection between the enterprise and the consumer is, indeed, an ongoing “relationship”.  The investment, or lack thereof, in that relationship can bring about feast or famine.  When you think of the essentials in maintaining a good personal relationship, whether with a friend or spouse, the elements of trust, understanding, personality, connection, validation/satisfaction of needs and communication is paramount.  Maintenance, nurturing and attention is essential on a regular basis to maintain and grow a strong and loyal relationship.  Both the art and science of consumer relationship development is very similar.  Both a consumer relationship and a personal relationship can wither on the vine abruptly and definitively upon the breach of the above elements creating a rapid divergence of mutually shared interest and catastrophic failure.  Unfortunately, when it comes to consumers, breaking up is actually quite “easy” to do compared to ending a valued personal relationship.   

The last thing we want to happen to the broad cross-section of Naperville consumers is for them to arrive at the day when they look around and say “Naperville is no longer relevant or unique to me and my interests”.  

Walt Disney World conducts market research within its theme parks each and every day, always on the lookout for trends, opportunities and weaknesses.  The goal is to get ahead of issues before they become problems and to respond to consumer preferences/trends before they “tune out”.  It’s an evolutionary process designed to mitigate the possibility of a consumer uprising or revolution.  Even more, it decreases the possibility of WDW finding themselves in the business of resorting to desperation in which sudden and revolutionary change is needed to attempt to stop consumer erosion.

With all of this said, I do understand the challenges, limitations and politics behind our community intervening in capitalistic darwinism.  At the same time, the ultimate solution  may be elsewhere.  Perhaps we are focusing our energies too narrowly in thinking business mix and commerce alone will make or break our future. 

I happen to believe there are other ways downtown can solidify its uniqueness even in a chain retail/restaurant-infused world.  I say this because I must confess I have ironically dined at the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Austin, Texas which is wedged between the undeniable uniqueness of 4th Street and 6th Street. 

Austin has made its mark largely because of their strong commitment and understanding of the social/economic impact and unique allure of the arts in fostering limitless creative possibilities and understanding.  There are boundless opportunities within our borders for making Naperville a world-class destination for the arts.  If we can bring our collective energies and talents together to cooperate in the establishment of a strong vision for Naperville’s arts future, we may one day find ourselves less worried about Ruth’s Chris and Banana Republic. 

As a matter of fact, the business-mix evolution may occur naturally.  The arts reveal the true multi-dimensional power of independent creative expression… the same energy that drives entrepreneurial thought, success and innovation.  Our lives are enriched by our encounters with art as well as unique and inspiring experiences.  When we become inspired, we “pay it forward” in other areas of our life.  Likewise, our senses are dulled by the repetitious exposure to a homogenized and predictable world. 

Austin has forged a successful path which promotes uniqueness and individuality through its commitment to arts and culture, which also contributes greatly to the local economy and economic development successes.  The town has even supported a creative and enterprising University of Texas at Austin graduate who found the right environment for cultivating his unique idea for a business of which he still operates today in Austin… his name is Michael Dell and the little business he got off the ground is Dell Computers.  The possibilities are, indeed, limitless.

Unexpected Visit to Walker’s Charhouse in Gartner Plaza Provides Pleasant Surprise and Alternative to Downtown Naperville Restaurant Scene

On Friday night, with our babysitter keeping watch over the kids, my wife and I headed out for a grown-up night on the town.  After hearing plenty of great buzz about Twisted Cork, a wonderful new wine bar which took over the former La Piazza space in Gartner Plaza, we decided to start our “living on the edge” reservation-less evening with a quick wine flight and a selection of cheese. 

While I definitely plan to write more about Twisted Cork in the near future and strongly encourage you to not wait until my posting to make plans to experience Naperville’s newest gem, this posting provides a written account of the unexpected surprise of the evening.

After we finished enjoying our selections of cheese and our own indivdual wine flights, which consisted of 3-3oz. glasses, we were amazed to find that neither of us felt in the least bit comfortable to drive right away despite the fact we had consumed a total of only about one glass of wine.  Though the sharing menu at Twisted Cork was appealing, we wanted something a little more substantial for dinner and knew that hanging around the Cork would likely result in more wine which would curb the remainder of our evening plans.

Being in Garnter Plaza, we at least had a couple of choices within walking distance, but we wanted something a little more grown-up and dateworthy than Colonial Cafe.  My wife mentioned Walker’s Charhouse which is in Gartner Plaza in a relatively non-descript “tough to gauge” space.  I will confess that I wasn’t entirely in the mood to “take a chance” on our big date night at a restaurant that we had never been nor had we heard much about.  Nonetheless, we were running out of options, the night wasn’t getting any younger and the wine gods were getting antsy.  Thus, we decided to give it a shot and I can say in advance of the remainder of this posting, I’m really happy that we did for a number of reasons.

We walked into the Walker’s Charhouse space and immediately were greeted at the host stand.  As I looked around, the space revealed the dated feel of an old school Chicago steakhouse rich in wood, low lighting and a sprinkling of booths.  I briefly glanced over to the large bar area to see if I might catch a glimpse of rugged mob-types sporting their pinky rings.  I’m pleased to report that none were detected. 

We were encouraged that the healthy Friday night crowd at Walker’s certainly seemed to consist of many regulars with enough experience to know their food.  Upon being seated at our booth, our attention quickly turned to the menu which immediately surprised us in terms of selection and price.  Even before taking a first drink or bite, Walker’s was clearly a great value for food and drinks.

Both my wife and I were in the mood for steak and, in typical fashion, she set her sights on the filet and I on the ribeye.  The ribeye was 14 ounces of prime beef which, to our amazement, included both a salad and a typical steakhouse side dish for only $24.95.  In addition to the salad, I chose onion rings for my side as well as an additional side of creamed spinach.  The shock continued as I discovered the extra side would only cost $2.75.  Finally, I was also able to add four grilled shrimp to my side salad for $3.75.  The dressings were homemade and while the waitress recommended their Ranch, I went with the creamy garlic (both were terrific).

We had established the prices were great and a welcome reprieve from the usual downtown tab, but we cautiously reserved our verdict for the true test…. the food. 

While the service was a little shaky leaving us feeling a little envious of the regulars who seemed to get the earned extra attention, the salads eventually arrived along with some warm bread.  The first thing we noticed was the greens which were a rich green romaine without a trace of iceberg to be seen.  Fresh red tomatoes and cucumber accompanied.  As you will recall, I added the grilled shrimp and honestly wasn’t expecting much for less than four bucks.  I was shocked when four plump and tender grilled shrimp arrived with my salad.  I’m not sure where they get their shrimp, but they were tender and reminiscnet of the fresh gulf shrimp we buy and grill from Fabian’s Seafood at the Naperville Farmer’s Market.  Fresh is definitely the word I would use to describe both the salad and wonderful dressing.  Often, side salads in restaurants suffer from hasty neglect and I often find myself quickly taking only a few obligatory bites before the main event; however, I truly enjoyed every bite of freshness this salad had to offer. 

The main course arrived and my ribeye, with it’s perfect char marks, was both a visual and aromatic sight to behold.  I anxiously carved off a quick taste gathering some of the nice juices in the plate and was pleased with the balance of seasoning and marbled beef flavor.  While I’m used to the thick-cut ribeye, this thin cowboy cut really surprised me.  The onion rings were large and breaded, most likely frozen, yet tasty.  I was really impressed with my $2.75 side order of creamed spinach which reminded of the glorious creamed spinach you find in Chicago at a much higher end steak joint such as Smith and Wollensky. 

Though I had no room for dessert, my wife took advantage of the ”bite-sized” portion of creme brulee which was quite generous. 

All in all, the food was fresh, surprisingly solid and a nice alternative to our typical dining out experience in dowtown Naperville.  When you also take into account our final tab was approximately 35-45% less than we would have spent in downtown for comparable quality, the overall experience was a success and one that I knew I wanted to share with our World of Naperville readers.  I strongly encourage you to give Walker’s Charhouse a try whether you are looking to avoid the downtown crowds, save a few dollars or simply looking for a new food find.

During our conversation with our waitress, we learned Walker’s has been open for 12 years and serves a neighborhood-focused clientele. 

Additional information is listed below:

Walker’s Charhouse (www.walkerscharhouse.com) 

8 W. GARTNER RD. UNIT 140
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
ph: 630-637-9688
fax: 630-637-9701

Please feel free to add your own comments about Walker’s Charhouse.