<p>Speaker 1: I'm in beautiful downtown Aurora, Illinois. And today we're going to talk to the community and hear their voice. And we're also going to speak to the business owners who make a living here. Let's go check it out.</p> <p>            You guys originally from Aurora?</p> <p>Speaker 2: Yes, we are.</p> <p>Speaker 3: Yes, we are.</p> <p>Speaker 1: You are, how long ago?</p> <p>Speaker 2: 70 years. 72 years.</p> <p>Speaker 1: 72 years. And 70 years ago, what did this area look like?</p> <p>Speaker 3: Your typical 50s.</p> <p>Speaker 2: Yeah, it was bustling. There was always people-</p> <p>Speaker 3: Cars going up and down-</p> <p>Speaker 2: ... cars every place.</p> <p>Speaker 1: Really.</p> <p>Speaker 2: Did all your shopping here, everything was down here.</p> <p>Speaker 1: What do you think about when you see these new businesses popping up? I mean, does it make you excited and you're more likely to come downtown?</p> <p>Speaker 4: Yeah. I mean, I've liked coming downtown just to drive around and now it's nice to be able to stop and do stuff instead of... Because I'd like to... I like to go through the downtown streets and whatever, and it's cool seeing people actually here.</p> <p>Speaker 1: When you're walking around downtown, what do you like about it?</p> <p>Speaker 5: There's a lot of really cool architecture down here. The river is very nice. They've really cleaned up the riverfront a lot. They've cleaned up a lot of the streets and sidewalks and done a lot with the landscaping.</p> <p>Speaker 1: What do you think that the city could do to keep the history?</p> <p>Speaker 5: I think they could help businesses out. I think opening a business down here is difficult for a lot of small business owners. There's a lot of hoops to jump through. I know there's a lot of businesses that have been trying to open for the last three years.</p> <p>Speaker 1: Really.</p> <p>Speaker 5: There's weird red tape that I hear about.</p> <p>Speaker 1: What do you think when you see some of these older buildings that are boarded up that have this potential?</p> <p>Speaker 6: I would rather see some small businesses and to see that the people who have lived here for a long time continue to make this their home.</p> <p>Speaker 1: Have you heard anything, any roadblocks with opening up a business in Aurora?</p> <p>Speaker 7: I have heard from some of the small businesses that there can be a bit of red tape, which makes people who want to switch careers and maybe go out on their own, it makes them a little hesitant and Aurora seems to be up and coming. But I think small business owners need the support that it takes to get a business off of the ground.</p> <p>Speaker 1: So you've been in this location for 15 years, where we're kind of right on the edge of downtown Aurora. How do you like this location?</p> <p>Speaker 8: Beautiful. Our customers are the best, and I'm not just saying that. We... They kept us going, even through the pandemic. We didn't miss a beat.</p> <p>Speaker 1: Is there anything that you wish downtown had right now?</p> <p>Speaker 8: More big businesses. That would help us to have a lot more people coming around for lunch. Right now we... Our lunches, when they're happening, we get a lot of teachers, which is a positive thing.</p> <p>Speaker 1: I'm here with Nick, the communications coordinator for Aurora. What's your hope for downtown Aurora? When people come downtown, what do you want their feeling to be when they come here?</p> <p>Speaker 9: Want people to come here, and if you're from here, I would like for people to feel unified, accepted, and encouraged to be a part of the community. And that's what makes things where people want to live, right. And not just be a part of something just every day, go out and go to work, but you want to live and experience your community.</p> <p>Speaker 1: What do you hope to see from downtown Aurora? If you talked to city planners and say, "I really love this downtown"?</p> <p>Speaker 2: Just continue what you're doing. Bring back the theater, that's great-</p> <p>Speaker 3: Culture.</p> <p>Speaker 2: ... and all the shows, the little downtown venues-</p> <p>Speaker 1: Okay. So they're doing-</p> <p>Speaker 2: ... the restaurants.</p> <p>Speaker 1: ... they're doing a great job.</p> <p>Speaker 3: If you build it, they will come.</p> <p>Speaker 1: If you build it, they will come.</p>