6 Downtowns You'll Dig

Many of the suburbs within the Chicago Southland have defined centers of town, with a significant structure as a focal point and/or main street of historic buildings, quaint shops and more that make for a pleasant destination to spend a day. Each one of our communities has something that makes it special, and here we’ll highlight six that have so much to explore in their downtowns.

Crete

Founded in 1836, Crete has a charming Main Street with some historic buildings housing businesses and some century-plus old Victorian-style homes. Spend time perusing the Crete Creative Gallery & School, sip on a pint of craft beer at Evil Horse Brewing Company and go upstairs to The Loft for a pizza or some pasta, grab a sandwich or baked goods at The Mixing Bowl Café or get a cup of Joe at The Edge Coffee House & Roasting Company. Downtown Crete is the place to be on summer evenings when the cruise nights and the farmers market take place.

Flossmoor

Downtown Flossmoor covers a small area, but it’s not lacking in charm. Sterling Avenue runs along the Metra tracks, where commuters and those in the community make their way to Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery and to the adjacent businesses, like Dunning’s Gourmet Market & Deli, Conservatory Vintage & Vinyl and to The Bistro on Sterling. The nearby library and parks add the quaint community feel. There are also sculptures in the downtown area to view and festivals taking place throughout the year.

Frankfort

Historic Downtown Frankfort is a community where the past and future are perfectly intertwined. The Frankfort Grainery Tower remains, overlooking Breidert Green (a central community green space where outdoor concerts and events take place), the Old Plank Road Trail (a rails-to-trails route that extends for over 20 miles) and the downtown area. Lined with unique boutiques and independent upscale eateries, its picturesque downtown has earned the village a rating as a top suburb and top place to live in Illinois.

Homewood

Downtown Homewood has so much offer. Its downtown corridor ends at the Metra station, with easy access to Chicago’s Millennium Station. It has plenty of shops and places to enjoy a quick bite or savor a leisurely meal. There’s even a luxurious boutique hotel that was converted from a historic bank building. The farmers market and other events also happen downtown. And make sure you take the opportunity to explore the Richard Haas murals throughout the downtown area – the largest collection of Haas illusion murals in the world.

Lansing

Make your way along Lansing’s Ridge Road to browse in specialty shops, visit two different wine bars (Pour On Roy and S.L Wine Bar) and have a sweet treat at Kdulche Cafe or some pizza at Beggars Pizza, where you can see occasional performances on their historic pipe organ. Running through downtown is the Pennsy Greenway, so it’s a great place to park and venture out for a bike ride. Fox Pointe features free concerts and events on its stage throughout the summer season and is the site of Lansing Autumn Fest.

Orland Park

The Orland Historic District is a unique area where you’ll find a number of antique and specialty shops and interesting service businesses nestled in an 1800s neighborhood. Take a stroll to take in some of the beautiful historic churches, colorful gardens and charming historic homes and do a little shopping.