Dr. Chase and Dr. Megan, Owners

Eyes on Wheaton began with a shared dream. Dr. Chase Smith and Dr. Megan Westergren met while attending the Illinois College of Optometry in 2010, married in 2016, and soon after set out to build an independent optometry practice of their own. Drawn to Wheaton's charming downtown, family-centered community, and proximity to where Dr. Megan grew up, they opened Eyes on Wheaton in April 2017 as a brand-new practice built from the ground up. Their goal was simple: to provide exceptional eye care in a warm, welcoming environment where patients would feel like family.

Nearly a decade later, that vision has grown into something even more meaningful. Eyes on Wheaton has had the privilege of caring for multiple generations of families and watching many of those families grow over the years. The practice combines that personal, family-owned feel with the latest technology in retinal imaging, an extensive optical collection that is thoughtfully selected by hand, and a special interest in the fitting of contact lenses. And, of course, many patients know Sunny, Dr. Chase and Dr. Megan's 5-year-old golden retriever and beloved office dog, who happily accompanies Dr. Chase to work. She has become a favorite part of many patients' visits.

Outside of the practice, Dr. Chase and Dr. Megan are busy raising their three young daughters and enjoying this sweet season of family life. Dr. Megan is currently staying at home with their girls while they are little, and as a family they love spending time together, especially on trips to Walt Disney World. Eyes on Wheaton has grown alongside their own family, and they are incredibly grateful to be part of a community that has supported their dream since 2017.

Lindsay J., Owner

I’m Lindsay, owner and operator of Frocks and Frills Vintage; a store that specializes in wearable vintage apparel, jewelry, and accessories for everyone.

14 years ago, I was completing my bachelor’s degree at Benedictine University to become an English teacher, so if you told me then that my future would be providing wardrobes to amazing people, performers, and hit TV shows like the “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Palm Royale,” or the upcoming “Crystal Lake,” I would have laughed!

In the summer of 2012, my parents decided to close their antique shop where I was selling vintage as a side job. I had a choice to make: liquidate my stock and hold out for a teaching position before fall, or dive head-first into my first solo brick and mortar venture as a full-time vintage clothing dealer. Armed with a decent inventory and my mom’s moral support, I signed my first lease in Wheaton, with a skeptical realtor who suggested I "just sign a one-year, and see how it goes.” I piled all my vintage, second-hand fixtures, and my soul into my newly leased space and I never looked back.

For the next 10+ years, my mom stayed by my side, guiding me in business and spending time at the shop with me every single day. Together, we learned (and lived) what it meant to “shop local.” With every customer, we built not only a business, but lasting friendships with the people that came in. These days, there are few places you can go to receive true “retail therapy” — a personal shopping experience with a side of conversation and friendship.

Sadly, my mom passed away last year after a sudden and horrific battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The pain of her loss has impacted not just our family, but the dear customers who became her friends as well. I hold in my hands a photo of my mom, which I keep at the store to honor her memory. Here, I feel her presence and hear her advice echo in every choice I make, giving me the courage to keep moving forward.

Leah Phillips, Owner

I’ve always loved interiors and creating beautiful rooms, but what I love most is how a thoughtfully designed space can make you feel. Leah Phillips Interiors was built on that passion for creating inviting, comfortable homes that our clients are proud to call their own. I love getting to know our clients, understanding how they live, and creating spaces that feel personal and timeless. At the end of the day, my “why” is simple: I love creating beautiful homes and seeing how those spaces become a meaningful part of people’s everyday lives.

We love working in Wheaton. It’s where we call home, where our kids go to school, and where we’ve found such wonderful friends and community. There’s something really special about working locally and getting to know our clients over the course of a project while sharing that common connection to the place we all call home. We’re proud to be part of this community and love that our work allows us to invest in Wheaton while helping make the homes here beautiful, functional, and special.

Beth & Haley, Owners

M&Co. Salon has been part of the community since 2014, and in 2018 business partners Beth and Haley took a leap of faith by becoming owners in their early 20s. They saw an opportunity to build on the salon's foundation while creating a space where guests could feel welcomed, cared for, and confident. In 2022, the salon expanded to 15-chairs — a milestone that reflected not only their growth but also the incredible support they have received from their amazing team, clients, and the community.

For Haley and Beth, the "why" has always been about more than hair. It's about creating genuine connections and helping people feel like the best version of themselves. Building a salon that feels like home for both their clients and team has always been their goal. They are so grateful to be part of the community for over 10 years and look forward to continuing to grow alongside it for years to come.

Supporting local is about so much more than making a purchase — it's about investing in the people and the community around you. Every time you choose a local business, you're supporting families, creating jobs, and helping small businesses grow and give back to the communities they love. As a locally-owned salon, M&Co. stylists have the privilege of building lasting relationships with guests, and those connections are what make their work so meaningful. A thriving community is built by neighbors supporting neighbors, and everyone at M&Co. is incredibly grateful for everyone who chooses to shop small and support local. Together, we can make our community a stronger, more vibrant place to live and work.

Jessica Klaas, Owner & Creative Director

River&Rose Design was born from a passion for creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind gowns for the women who wear them. Every woman deserves a gown created specifically for her, with exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and an impeccable fit.

I created River&Rose as a custom bridal and evening wear studio where the process of creating a gown is just as meaningful as the gown itself. From our first conversation to the final fitting, each piece is designed around the woman wearing it. We take 30 individual measurements and develop the construction specifically for her body, incorporating luxurious fabrics and, when desired, custom-made textiles and handwork.

What makes River&Rose different is that every gown is an expression of the woman wearing it — her individuality, her elegance, and her personal sense of beauty. The River&Rose woman cares about where and how her garments are made. She seeks something truly elevated and refined, values impeccable fit and craftsmanship, and isn't afraid to express her individuality. Most importantly, she wants to be part of the journey.

Ultimately, I want every client who walks through our doors to feel like family when she leaves. Time is our most precious commodity, and it is our greatest honor to spend that time creating something meaningful with our clients.

River&Rose is more than a gown. It is the experience of having something made entirely for you, and selecting a local business like River&Rose means consciously choosing a personal experience rather than simply purchasing a gown. It means supporting a small, women-led business where your purchase directly supports the hands, creativity, and craftsmanship behind every piece. When you choose to create with us, you become part of our story — and we become part of yours. Every appointment, fitting, and final stitch is an opportunity to create something meaningful, while keeping the art of craftsmanship alive right here in our community. We are so proud and grateful to be a part of this community.

Eric Schlickman, Owner
When I purchased Shane’s Deli, I saw more than just a sandwich shop — I saw a longtime Downtown Wheaton gathering place worth preserving. The goal from the beginning was to respect what people already loved about Shane’s while bringing new energy to the business and helping position it for the future. Shane’s became part of a larger commitment to invest in Downtown Wheaton and create hospitality businesses that feel local, welcoming, and deeply connected to the community.

For me, it’s especially personal because this is the community where I grew up and where I am raising my family. I want my kids to grow up in a town where they know the people behind the counter, where businesses support one another, and where there are places that genuinely feel like home. Every time someone chooses a local restaurant, shop, or service instead of the easier or more familiar national option, they’re helping make that possible.

We never take that choice for granted. When someone walks through our doors, they’re not just supporting a business — they’re helping support the kind of community we all want to live in.

Skinny Herrera, CEO

After high school, I moved to Brazil to pursue my passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and dedicate myself to training and competing. After seven years of traveling and competing around the world, it was time to share my experience and love for the sport by opening my own academy. I wanted to create a beautiful, welcoming space in a great community where people of all ages and backgrounds could train, grow, and feel at home. Elmhurst and Wheaton turned out to be the perfect fit. My goal with Vuk BJJ has always been to build more than just a gym — to create a place where people can develop confidence, build friendships, and become part of a community through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Supporting local is incredibly important because it creates a relationship that benefits everyone in the community. It gives residents access to great services close to home while supporting everyday people who have invested their time, energy, and savings into building something for the benefit of our shared community.

Every person who walks through our doors helps us continue doing what we love, supporting our instructors, and providing a positive environment for our students. When you support a local business like mine, you’re not just supporting a gym. You’re supporting real people, their families, and a dream that continues to grow because of our supportive community.

Lil Di John, Owner
Wildflower Mercantile opened its doors in Downtown Wheaton in March of 2024, but in many ways, its story began long before that. I never dreamed of opening a shoppe. The idea came to me during a tender season of life, almost as if it simply dropped onto my heart. At first, it was a quiet nudge. But over time, that nudge grew louder and louder, and life seemed to keep shifting in ways that moved me closer to saying yes.

I started wondering what it would look like to turn the idea and those feelings into a place… A place filled with beautiful finds, meaningful gifts, goods that make you laugh, that make you think, and maybe even spark a little bit of magik.

The store is deeply personal to me. It is a collection of so many things I love and believe in: beauty, connection, curiosity, joy, self-expression, a little bit of rebellion, and the idea that we should never become so practical that we stop leaving room for wonder.

My hope has always been that Wildflower feels less like a place you simply shop and more like a place you experience. I want people to feel welcome exactly as they are — and perhaps leave a little more connected to themselves, a little more open to possibility, or simply really happy about the fabulous thing they found.

Behind every small business is a person who took a risk on an idea. There are families, employees, late nights, bills, worry, creativity, hope — and an enormous amount of heart behind that front door. Wildflower happens to be mine.

There is something especially meaningful about getting to build that dream here in Downtown Wheaton. When people choose to spend their dollars locally, they aren’t only supporting one store. They are helping create the kind of downtown they want to live near: one with personality, gathering places, independent businesses and people who know your name.

Some of my favorite Wildflower moments aren’t necessarily the biggest sales. They’re seeing a familiar face walk through the door. Watching someone bring a friend in for the first time and say, “You have to see this place.” Seeing people settle in with a glass of wine and stay a while. Those moments remind me that this has become more than something I created — it has become something the community participates in.

I will never take that for granted.