Downtown Aurora just picked up a fresh little upgrade. Over the weekend, crews installed a new awning over Skinny Park, the slim slice of green space on South Broadway that the city wants to feel a lot more like an outdoor living room once the weather warms up. At the same time, the City tagged the neighboring storefront at 7 S. Broadway as the future home of Vicolo, a restaurant and pastificio now billed as "coming soon."
According to City of Aurora, IL Government on Facebook, the photos in the post show a "newly installed awning made for summer nights and outdoor dining" and confirm Vicolo as the incoming restaurant and pastificio. The post does not give an opening date, but the setup clearly points to the park being readied for alfresco seating this season.
Vicolo Will Lean Into Pasta, Pastries And Pizza
Chris and Megan Curren, the team behind The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles, have signed a lease for the roughly 3,200-square-foot space at 7 S. Broadway. They describe Vicolo as an all-day Italian cafe and pasticceria that will make pasta in house and feature a wood-fired oven in the dining room. As reported by the Daily Herald, the plan is for daytime bakery and takeaway service to give way to an evening osteria vibe, with community programming spilling into Skinny Park next door.
City Planning And Skinny Park License Fit A Bigger Downtown Play
Official planning documents for the South Broadway corridor list 7 S. Broadway as a site "in negotiation" for restaurant use and highlight Skinny Park as a candidate for outdoor dining and programmed public space. The city's RFQ and related development materials spell out how the park and adjoining parcels are being repurposed to boost street level activity, according to City of Aurora RFQ documents.
Opening Timeline Still A Moving Target
The March 14 Facebook post does not include a target opening date. Earlier local coverage had projected a spring debut for Vicolo, but that schedule appears to have shifted as redevelopment and permitting have continued. Shaw Local reported the initial timeline and the owners' plans for community focused programming, which makes the freshly mounted awning look like an early move in activating the block.
Small Awning, Big Signal For Broadway
On its own, an awning is a modest tweak to the streetscape. In context, it is a clear sign that Aurora is trying to link dining and public space along Broadway, nudging Skinny Park toward a busier nighttime role with more community events and outdoor tables. Neighbors and nearby businesses will likely be watching for building permits, final signage and a formal opening announcement from the Vicolo team in the coming weeks.
