PLAINFIELD – Six-year-old Palen Zitzka and her 3-year-old sister Gracian gobbled up small cups of gelato during a hot and humid Tuesday evening welcomed by area residents – as well as Corvette owners – in downtown Plainfield.

Their parents got the treat for them from Simply Saucy as the new to Plainfield family walked along Lockport Street in the downtown area during the June 9 summer cruise night event, which features classic and specialty cars lining streets and parking areas.

“It’s a great time,” said Zack Zitzka, the girls’ father, who has attended two Plainfield cruise nights so far. “We get the kids out and they can walk around. I see the cars and [my wife Lauren] checks the new businesses.”

Downtown Plainfield Cruise Nights have been a regular event in the village for more than two decades. This summer, cruise nights are scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday through Sept. 1, except for July 21.

The event has evolved to meet the needs of businesses along Lockport Street, many of which are enjoying a resurgence thanks to historic designation of the downtown area and a growing village population.

Business impact

Downtown is a place for unique, local and crafty businesses. Plainfield officials want to keep it that way.

But that means downtown businesses forego having recognizable big-box and anchor stores nearby, such as Wal-Mart, Target, Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s and the possible foot traffic they could bring along the stretch of Lockport Street between James Street and Route 59.

Events, such as cruise night, draw people into the area.

“Cruise nights are our biggest nights for downtown business,” said Tasha Kitson, executive director of the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber took over running cruise nights, and the annual downtown Candlelight Christmas event, after a nonprofit partnership of Plainfield businesses called MainStreet Plainfield ended two years ago.

Tony Padovano, a barber at Lincoln Way Barber Shop, 24045 Lockport St., said Tuesday cruise nights are hit or miss when it comes to bringing in more customers. But the most important benefit was the visibility and advertising opportunity it provides.

“People driving by often miss the shop because we’re kind of in the middle, not on a street corner,” Padovano said, adding Lincoln Way benefits from being the oldest surviving business in downtown Plainfield. “We consistently have good, solid business.”

Cary Miller, the owner of Miller’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shop, 24032 Lockport St., has either helped run or participated in downtown Plainfield cruise nights for 25 years.

“It gets people who have never been in the shop to walk in,” Miller said.

On June 9, Miller was making loudspeaker announcements. In one he joked, asking the owner of the Corvette to move or be ticketed. It was Corvette Night.

“We try to keep it a good, fun event,” he said.

New customers

For the Zitzka family, cruise nights are an opportunity to check out a new town. The family moved from Chicago’s South Side to Plainfield in January.

“Since we’re new, it was kind of good to walk up to these new restaurants,” Lauren Zitzka said.

Brian and Pamela Kolar moved from Romeoville and Naperville to Plainfield in August. They brought their daughter, 2-year-old Jane Kolar, to check out not just the cars, but the businesses.

“It’s my second time coming for the cars,” Brian Kolar said, describing himself as a “car guy.”

Pamela Kolar said the event was a good opportunity to try the different restaurants downtown.

“We’ll probably walk around a little and eat dinner,” she said.

Traffic flow

In previous years, Lockport Street has closed to vehicle traffic for cruise night. Decades ago, Miller said cruise nights were open to regular street traffic.

In addition to being closed off to regular traffic, traffic flow for the show cars has turned into a one-way route from Route 59 to James Street.

Given cruise nights start at 5 p.m. and run until 9 p.m., it does lead to increased traffic on Route 59 and Route 126. However, organizers and traffic controllers don’t see that as a problem.

“The streets are shut down for pedestrian traffic control and safety,” said Plainfield Emergency Management Agency Sgt. Kurt Clifford, who was patrolling Lockport Street during the event last week.

“I have heard no complaints,” he said. “People are used to this on Tuesday nights by now.”

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Plainfield Cruise Nights 2015
WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m., every Tuesday through Sept. 1, except July 21
WHERE: Lockport Street, downtown Plainfield
WHO: Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce
WHY: Check out specialty and classic cars and downtown business
COST: Free to the public