Every holiday season in downtown Batavia runs on the same event dates: the Lantern Walk, the tree lighting on the Riverwalk, and breakfast with Santa. This year the calendar also carries a second set of dates. Red Hive Market, The Book Shop and Beardsgaard Barbers have each announced they will close at the end of 2026. That makes this season the last one for three businesses that together have been downtown for more than 25 years.
The way to plan November and December is to start with the closing dates and fit the events around them. Red Hive's last Santa Paws falls on Dec. 13, and Beardsgaard's last chair appointments end on Dec. 30.
The dates that don't come back
| Business | Address | Years downtown | Last day, as announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hive Market | 6 W. Wilson St. | Seven | Closing Dec. 31 |
| The Book Shop | 15 N. River St. | Eight | Closing at the end of the year |
| Beardsgaard Barbers | 117 S. Batavia Ave. | 12, since 2014 | Final appointments Wed., Dec. 30 |
Tri-Cities Central reported on Oct. 19 that Red Hive, the Wilson Street boutique known for carrying local artisans, will close Dec. 31 because its owners are retiring from retail. The Book Shop's news came earlier. The Kane County Chronicle reported in July that the River Street store would close at year's end, eight years after it opened.
Beardsgaard has posted the most detailed plan of the three. Its farewell page says appointments run through Wednesday, Dec. 30. A New Year's Eve open house follows from noon to 4, and remaining items will be sold through January before the doors close for good at the end of that month.
These three follow two closings on Wilson Street this fall. Daddio's Diner at 134 W. Wilson St. served its last day on Sept. 23 after nearly 20 years, according to the Daily Herald. Everdine's Grilled Cheese at 227 W. Wilson St. closed on Sept. 27.
November 13 is the one night every chapter shares a map
The Holiday Lantern Walk runs Friday, Nov. 13, from 5 to 9 p.m. Batavia MainStreet's event page says more than 30 businesses will stay open late. A holiday trolley will carry shoppers from one side of town to the other, and a lantern trail will link the shops for anyone walking. According to the Batavia 5th Ward blog's recap of the Oct. 19 City Council meeting, a MainStreet update to the council noted that the walk now runs on a Friday.
New this year is a $25 wine ticket for adults 21 and over. It covers 1-ounce pours at 12 participating businesses, including 63rd Street Apothecary, A Rooted Home, Bocaditos Cafe, Farmdog Flowers, Gammon Coach House, Geneva Winery and Paula's Couture Consignment.
The participant list holds both ends of downtown's year. Red Hive Market is on it, which makes this its last Lantern Walk. Kitty Cocoa Cafe is on it too, though the cafe hasn't opened yet. MainStreet's calendar invites visitors to Kitty Cocoa's future home at 139 First St. that evening to meet founder Alyssa Biala. The listing calls it "Batavia's upcoming cat café, featuring specialty hot chocolate, coffee, and adoptable cats," and adds that the space is "still under construction."
Other names on the list include Batavia Creamery, Batavia Popcorn Depot, Limestone Coffee & Tea, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Warehouse 55, Wilson Street Mercantile and WindMill Grille & Pizzeria.
What Kitty Cocoa will actually be
The cafe moves into the former Batavia Animal Clinic building. The Daily Herald reported in August that the City Council had approved the zoning change and conditional-use permit it needed, and that the owner was aiming to open in November or early December.
Based on the plans in that report, a visit will work differently from a regular coffee stop:
- The menu centers on Belgian-style hot chocolate, coffee and baked goods.
- Entry to the cat lounge is charged in 15-minute increments, and sessions require reservations.
- Each session is capped at eight guests.
- The cats come from local shelters and are available for adoption. They will have high and low perches and enclosures where they can get away from people.
- Windows and a small patio are planned so people walking by can see the cats.
No opening date has been set. The Lantern Walk preview is the confirmed date on the calendar for now.
Another newcomer opens before that. Good Energy Women's Health will hold a grand-opening open house at its new space at 14 N. Island Ave. on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Saturdays in between
The Indoor Market moves into Sturdy Shelter Brewing at 10 S. Shumway Ave. for the cold months. The same council recap reports MainStreet saying the season starts this Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon with 24 vendors. Later dates on MainStreet's calendar include Nov. 14, the morning after the Lantern Walk, and Dec. 12.
Until Nov. 22, the Batavia Depot Museum is showing its fall exhibit, "In Harmony."
Sunday, November 29, on the Riverwalk
The Park District's Celebration of Lights runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Batavia Riverwalk at the Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave. The program includes Santa, the Christmas tree lighting, Christmas Tree Lane, reindeer, holiday stories read aloud and a craft. The hayrides are free with a food donation to the Batavia Food Pantry, so bring a few cans.
The December weekend that stacks up
December 12 and 13 is the busiest weekend of the season, and one event on it is a last.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, 8:30 to 11 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at Shannon Hall. Two sessions are offered, with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to noon: The Indoor Market at Sturdy Shelter overlaps with breakfast, so families can do both in one morning.
- Sunday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Santa Paws at Red Hive Market, which the store has called its last.
After that weekend, the remaining dates are the closing dates in the table above. They end with Beardsgaard's open house on New Year's Eve.
If the weather turns cold enough, Depot Pond adds one more option. The Park District opens it for skating only after the ice reaches at least 8 inches, and a green flag means it's safe. Skaters bring their own skates.
What happens to the empty storefronts
The open question this season is what will move into the spaces these businesses leave. No new tenant has been announced for the Daddio's or Everdine's locations. The Batavia 5th Ward blog's Oct. 19 council recap reports that the City Administrator described the Red Hive and Beardsgaard spaces as "retail-ready" for new tenants.
On Oct. 23, the local Batavia 5th Ward blog argued that downtown is in transition rather than decline. It points out that Paula's was sold to a new owner and stayed open, and that the city has given a building-improvement grant to a prospective tenant at the former Thorabella's property. The same post names the cost of bringing historic storefronts up to modern use as one of downtown's practical hurdles.
River Street Plaza, at the former Tin Shop site at 102 N. River St., won't be part of this holiday season. The blog's recap of the Oct. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting reports that the plaza's automated washrooms work but the buildout is still waiting on supplies. The fencing subcontractor is being charged liquidated damages for delays. Out on Randall Road, a Texas Roadhouse is planned for 275 N. Randall Road in front of Kohl's. The city approved a sales-tax rebate for it in September, but no opening date has been announced.
For a regular weekend downtown once the holidays are over, our guide to the three blocks of North River Street still covers the core.
At the Lori Johanneson Team, we keep track of which Batavia storefronts are changing hands because those changes shape what it's like to live on the surrounding blocks. If you're wondering how this year's changes downtown affect what your own home is worth, start with What's My Home Worth? and we'll walk you through it.
