Historic Style
By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the February 2025 issue.
This downtown Naperville commercial property is ready for its close-up

There’s an inherent marketing perk to the commercial property at 237 W. Jefferson Ave. in Naperville, now on the market for $1.68 million. Thanks to its high-profile location on a busy corner across from the Nichols Library, this historic former residence (with its stately brick exterior and distinctive turret) is a place that most locals are already very familiar with—whether they know the business within or not.
In fact, Gina Sowa, who is the co-owner of current occupant C’zar Salon Spa alongside Evonne Rutz and Debbie Nachreiner, says she frequently hears comments about the building from clients and nonclients alike. “Everyone knows it,” she says. “They talk about how they’ve been walking past this great old building for years.”

While C’zar has been in the space for just the past dozen years or so, the structure itself dates back to 1908 (as a private home before being rezoned for commercial use in 2012). Sowa says the building—which features 3,252 of above-grade square footage as well as a 1,422-square-foot basement—has held up quite well over the past 117 years, with interior details like stained glass accents and hand-carved cabinets adding a vintage touch to the space.

Although C’zar is not planning to end its 40-year run in downtown Naperville anytime soon (and, in fact, may opt to remain in this space as a tenant of the next owner), Sowa says they’ve decided it’s time for someone else to add their chapter to the building’s history. “It’s just so well built and so solid, and it has so much character.” Not to mention location, location, location.
Photos: Lucrative Dynamics