Restaurant, art gallery and beauty salon are among those choosing a village address
Brothers Ignacio and Antonio Monroy Lopez, co-owners of new village eatery Hinsdale Prime, have been delighted with diners' response to the opening of their steakhouse. The remodeled space, previously Corner Bakery, incorporates deep wood and stone for a classic, cozy feel that, together with tasty food, are designed as ingredients for a loyal clientele. (Jim Slonoff photo)
Hinsdale has celebrated the arrivals of several new members to its downtown business community in recent months. Here's the first of a two-part Good Reasons series introducing them.
Hinsdale Prime
The village's newest dining establishment had its ribbon-cutting this week but has actually been serving eager customers for a few weeks.
Hinsdale Prime at 42 E. Hinsdale Ave. is meant to be a neighborhood eatery where diners become familiar faces, according to co-owner Antonio Monroy Lopez.
"It's been really good," he said of the early enthusiasm for the restaurant's opening.
A rich wood interior with natural stone accents exudes a sophisticated, intimate vibe but one where lively meals are welcome. Lopez said the restaurant is both traditional and contemporary in its approach.
"It's a classic steakhouse and we have seafood, too," he said. "The seafood has a touch of French, Italian, Asian dishes."
A party room in the back can be closed off for private celebrations or business meetings for 20-25 people. Patrons opting to sit at the cozy but inviting bar can still get all the food options.
"We have a full bar, whatever cocktail you can imagine we can make it," he said. "We also allow people to bring their own bottles of wine."
Lopez said he wants Hinsdale Prime to be a kind of home away from home.
"We want to make people feel like this is a family restaurant," he said.
Caroline & Co
Caroline Perea's mission through her new salon Caroline & Co is to help women shorten their morning routines.
"We are specializing in permanent makeup," Perea said.
Permanent eyebrows, for example, are made by a digital pen inserting tiny hairstrokes of tattoo pigment beneath the skin.
"The women around the area are going to love that because they're no longer going to have to draw their eyebrows in, which is a morning struggle," Perea said.
Services also include permanent lip tints and eyelashes, again curtailing the daily mirror time needed for lipstick and mascara.
Perea opened her business at 18 W. First St. at the end of June, relocating from her previous site in downtown La Grange.
"We're happy that we're able to expand our services here," she said,
Over her 10 years of experience, Perea has learned exactly what her clients want.
"We have a bunch of different specialists," she said. "They're getting a specialist who is very well-versed in that one area."
The permanent makeup applications typically last at least a year and align nicely with the natural "clean girl aesthetic" popular right now.
"It allows them to not have to load on a bunch of makeup," Perea said.
Celestial Art Curation
The 9 E. First St. door leading upstairs to Celestial Art Curation is easy to miss. But the compelling paintings flanking the ascent pull the visitor into an atmosphere all its own.
Artist and owner Christine Gebauer opened the gallery in July primarily as a place for her and her peers in the area to exhibit their work.
"There are fabulous local artists, and there are people who really do want art for their homes. But it's finding the individual artists that can be challenging," she said.
Gebauer said she'd become a kind of matchmaker between prospective patrons looking for a particular style and artists in her network that fit the description. Having a physical space seemed the logical next step "to create opportunities for ourselves as artists and to get our work in front of people and to band together."
Gebauer, a Hinsdale resident, said she likes to include emerging artists in her collection.
"You can kind of catch them early in their career," she said, "and it's really nice time to swoop in and collect amazing art."
And at prices that don't reach the stratosphere, she noted. Gebauer acknowledged that art selection can be daunting and advised purchasers to follow their heart.
"When someone finds the piece they've been waiting for, it's literally magic," she said. "I love watching the process."
Images Med Spa
Images Med Spa, which provides cosmetic services, moved into its new home at 22 W. First St. at the end of last year.
Ali Tamashiro, marketing director, said the short relocation from its old home at 18 W. First was a considerable upsizing.
"We went from four rooms to 10," she said. "It's definitely grown."
