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📸 Credit: April Duda Photography
Batavia MainStreet is now accepting applications for the 2026 season of the popular and well-established Batavia Boardwalk Shops, a unique small business incubator in Downtown Batavia. Applications are due January 15, 2026.
Now entering its seventh season, the program continues to be admired for fostering small business growth and drawing visitors to downtown Batavia. The 2026 season aims to elevate offerings even further, seeking businesses that will attract shoppers and enhance the downtown experience.
“Each season, we select 10 businesses to showcase a variety of offerings and work closely with them, providing ongoing support, training, and regional marketing to help them succeed,” says Kristen Desler, Assistant Director of Batavia MainStreet. “Since 2020, Boardwalk Shops participants have generated over $2 million in sales, attracted visitors from 200+ unique zip codes, and appeared on Chicagoland television on WGN, FOX, and CBS.
The program features 10 shops at the corner of Wilson and River Streets, adjacent to the Batavia Farmers’ Market and the River Street Woonerf, drawing approximately 2,500 visitors weekly. Each individual shop measures 12×12 feet.
The goal is to provide entrepreneurs with a low-risk retail space to expand their business, test a new concept, or pilot a downtown location.
The 2026 season runs May 8 through December 20, with required hours: Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
More than 25 businesses have gone on to open permanent brick-and-mortar locations after their Boardwalk season,” Desler said.
Applicants will be invited for interviews with the jury committee in the fall, and selections will be announced by January 31, 2026. Previous participants may re-apply, though shop placement is not guaranteed.
Batavia MainStreet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing downtown Batavia through dedicated volunteer efforts. For more information, visit downtownbatavia.com.
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