As the year wraps up, let’s look back at what resonated most with readers across the Tri-Cities.

From breaking local news to stories and anecdotes that sparked conversation, these were the pieces that Tri-Cities Central readers clicked, shared, and spent the most time on.

Here are 12 of the most popular articles and features (in no particular order) from the past year — a snapshot of what resonated most in our community.

Readers love learning about new restaurants and establishments — so I’ve pulled together some of the most popular new dining destinations. Click the link to see the menu for each:

Patten House also reopened in August in downtown Geneva after a closure of nearly two years, once again serving its Cajun- and Creole-inspired menu inside the landmark 1857 building and on its popular patio. Read about its history.

It’s one of the most unsettling and little-known chapters in the Tri-Cities’ past: the Illinois State Training School for Girls, which operated in Geneva for more than 80 years and left behind stories of abuse, secrecy, and corruption. A Chicago Reader journalist spent nearly four years researching the full history — it’s a long read, but an important one that many readers found worth the time.

If you’ve ever driven past Dunham Road and Army Trail Road near St. Charles, you’ve probably caught yourself staring at the fairytale-like castle hidden in the trees. Built in the 1880s and long a source of local curiosity, Dunham Castle has lived many lives — and today, it’s been restored as a private residence while keeping its iconic look. Learn more and see photos.

In the lead-up to the grand opening, readers regularly clamored for details about the new Whole Foods taking over the former Blue Goose space.

The highly anticipated, 36K-square-foot store finally opened in June to robust local enthusiasm. As expected, store offers well-known items like kale, fresh sushi and curated artisan cheeses — but also some under-the-radar highlights like hundreds of products from Midwest brands.

A Tri-Cities Central subscriber poll about local music venues revealed that the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles is among the area's most popular entertainment destinations. Although it’s an iconic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, you may not be aware of some of the more intriguing aspects of its story. Let's explore its history.

The Mill Creek subdivision is located in unincorporated Kane County — just outside the city of Geneva's boundary limits. It’s not part of Geneva. Mill Creek residents know this. Most Geneva residents and long-time Tri-Cities locals probably do, too.

But others are either unaware or find the setup confusing (I was part of the latter camp). So we took a closer look.

Once a regional shopping destination, the Charlestowne Mall site remains one of the biggest unanswered redevelopment questions in St. Charles. The city published this webpage featuring up-to-date details on ownership, costs, and why transforming the property is so complex — a nice resource for locals hoping to keep up on the project.

For nearly 80 years, the Mill Race Inn served Geneva locals and visiting diners at its riverfront nook on Geneva’s east side. Many residents fondly remember lively dinners in the dining room or enjoying a drink with a view at the gazebo. After we explored its history, several readers recounted their favorite memories from visits to the restaurant over the years.

The sixth season of the Batavia Boardwalk Shops saw ten unique small businesses — and owners with big dreams — set up shop in the heart of downtown. From handmade goods to global flavors, each pop-up had a story worth exploring. Readers enjoyed learning about the vision and background each entrepreneur brought to the popular Batavia destination.

The people spoke: Riverside Pizza & Pub reigned supreme in the local pizza realm after winning the 2025 Tri-Cities Central “Best Pizza” competition. Riverside quickly became a neighborhood favorite after first opening in St. Charles back in 2014, and has since expanded to South Elgin in 2016, downtown Batavia in 2019, and Oswego in 2021.

After last year’s heated debate over the massive proposed Charles Farm development in St. Charles, a new plan for the LaFox area gained traction with much less friction. Campton Hills village trustees unanimously approved preliminary plans for a 900-unit residential development led by Shodeen Group in late 2025.

When several buildings abruptly disappeared in September along Route 31 between Stevens and Ford Streets in Geneva, reader questions flooded in seeking information about what was happening.

Demolition crews had started clearing the site at 302 River Lane (bordered by Stevens Street, Ford Street, and First Street) to make way for a new riverfront housing development approved by the City Council late last year. The site was home to the old Geneva Bottling Works building. Work is ongoing.

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