URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — From coffee shops to restaurants, and even a speakeasy, business is booming in Urbana.

“We have a lot of big city amenities packed into a small community,” said Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin.

The list of amenities is only growing. Within about the last month, these places have either rebranded, relocated, opened or planned to open in the city:

• Urbana Garden Restaurant rebranded to Maple & Yolk
• Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage relocated to Griggs Street
• Elm City Coffee opened Dec. 13
• Good Judys Espresso and Bagel Bar opened Dec. 18
• Yellow Rabbit speakeasy is open according to Marlin
• H Mart Asian grocer is opening Jan. 16
• Dutch Bros coffee is working to get a permit from the city

Elm City Coffee chose Urbana to be the home of its second location.

“We’ve only been open for a month, and I’ve been extremely encouraged by the interactions we’ve had with the folks that live here,” said Owner Ben Smith. 

Smith opened the first location a few years ago in Jacksonville, IL. He said Urbana has supported his business long before staff started roasting beans at their West Main Street shop.

“We got started at the farmers market over here and things just kind of developed,” Smith said.

That’s the same story with Good Judys. They operated out of a food truck after gaining traction at the farmer’s market. Now, they continue serving up coffee and bagel sandwiches at their brick-and-mortar shop.

“From the day I took office, one of my top priorities was to ensure that Urbana was a welcoming environment for businesses to start here and to grow here,” Marlin said. “I’m not an engineer, I’m not a planner, I’m not an accountant, but I am an advocate for the city.”

The business boom is something Marlin has been working on from the start of her now-eight-year term. 

She credits teamwork with departments across the city for making Urbana a place where there’s something for just about everyone. 

Beyond January, Marlin said Broadway Food Hall’s new owner has big plans for the space. Also, Cloud Mountain Kombucha is moving out of Lincoln Square Mall and into its own shop. 

On the hospitality side of things, Marlin said Hotel Royer is getting closer to welcoming guests after a years-long wait. She also said new apartments might be headed for Illinois Street.