Almost three years to the day she opened Lillians, Ursula Schroeder is closing her doors.
The owner of the women’s clothing and accessories boutique - tucked away at 32 W. Chicago Ave. – said she’s closing mainly because she’s ready to start a new chapter in her life.
“My lease was up and it just seems like a good time to take a break,” she said. “It’s just time to take a step back.”
Schroeder also mentioned the difficulties with running a store on a street known for restaurants rather than shops. Another issue for her and customers was sharing already limited street parking with bars and restaurants such as Features, Frankie’s Blue Room and Jimmy’s Grill.
According to her, customers are also worried about the new development located next to the Main Street Promenade East building, which is set to be completed in 2013.
“That’s going to be a few years off, but people are saying ‘if they’re going to add more [development] and no parking, then what’s going to happen?’”
But even though Lillians won’t be around to find out how the new development will impact the downtown area, a part of the store will live on as Schroeder plans on continuing fundraising events, which Lillians was known to hold.
“We sponsored a lot of fundraising events in-house and at a lot of other locations,” she said. “Just through those fundraisers, we’ve met so many incredible people.”
Throughout the past three years Lillians fundraisers supported groups like the American Cancer Society, Loaves & Fishes, Project H.E.L.P. and the Naperville Junior Woman's Club.
Once the store officially closes on April 28, Schroeder will absorb the store’s fundraising efforts through a Facebook page called the “Real Housewives of Naperville.”
“We’re going to continue our fundraising events, maybe even involve other stores; but we truly loved doing fundraising and we’re going to continue doing that through our Real Housewives of Naperville [Facebook] page,” she said.
And before the doors finally close, Lillians will be holding one final “thank you” event for customers on April 26, which was announced on the store’s Facebook page last week.
Many of Schroeder's customers were sad to hear about the closing, but there's no doubt they're excited for the next chapter in her life.
“The best is yet to come Ursula....you did an amazing job and touched a lot of people with that shop, but this is the only the beginning for you!!! Wishing you nothing but green pastures!!,” said Heather Hanson on Lillians Facebook page.
Schroeder said her customers were always loyal and as she looks back from when she first opened the store three years ago, she has no regrets.
“It just seemed like a fun thing to do," she said. "It just was something different, something I’ve never done before. I jumped in and I’ve loved every minute of it.”