Downtown Naperville bids farewell to two prominent businesses: Everdine’s Grilled Cheese and the Nike store. Everdine’s Grilled Cheese announced their closure on social media. Their store at 24 W. Jefferson Ave. is scheduled to shut down on Friday, although the reason for closing was not specified. The owners expressed gratitude for their dedicated customers over the past decade.
“We are so grateful for all our wonderful customers who stuck by and supported us through this last decade. It has been such a pleasure getting to know so many of you throughout the years,” they stated in their social media post.
Everdine’s opened in November 2016 and gained popularity quickly, selling around 300 to 400 sandwiches daily. Co-owners Kelly and Brian Herkert developed the idea of a grilled cheese shop during their backpacking trip in Australia, driven by the need for a fast, affordable meal. Their menu featured over a dozen gourmet grilled cheese combinations, including options like mac-and-cheese stuffed sandwiches, Hawaiian-style sandwiches with pineapple and ham, and Sloppy Joe versions. Customers also had the opportunity to customize their sandwiches. Although the Naperville location is closing, Everdine’s Batavia branch will remain operational.
The closure of the Nike store at 217 S. Main St. was confirmed by Downtown Naperville Alliance Executive Director Katie Wood. The store’s permanent closure was effective this week with the phone line indicating business cessation on July 13. Initially opening in November 2021, the location was the first Live retail operation in Illinois for Nike, focusing on women’s gear and apparel.
Nike’s financial performance has faced challenges recently, with stock prices declining roughly 35% this year despite modest revenue estimations in the fourth quarter. In response to these struggles, Nike has closed retail locations and cut 1,400 jobs, many in its technology operations. The company also announced the shutdown of Nike Studios boutique fitness gyms co-launched with FitLab.
Nike’s departure coincides with the opening of several athletic apparel businesses in Downtown Naperville. New arrivals include Vuori, which took over the former Eddie Bauer location, and FP Movement, a Free People subsidiary, launched in April.
Katie Wood commented, “Businesses close all the time as part of an evolving downtown.” She highlighted that 2025 marked a significant year for retail openings with brands like Free People, Lilly Pulitzer, FP Movement, Vuori, and Regenerate establishing themselves in the area.