"The space was very tired," Ramis Memishi of Five Kings Properties told The Hinsdalean in September, speaking about the shopping center near York Road and Ogden Avenue that has been there since 1985. "There was a lot of deferred maintenance that needed to be addressed right away."
Five Kings bought Gateway Square last year. Its plan touches almost every part of the property: a rebuilt courtyard, new signage and colors, a repaved parking lot and new lighting. Memishi said the company was working with the Village on approvals and wanted the whole project done next year.
Over the past year, new businesses have signed into the current building as it stands. So if you shop there this holiday season, you will find newly opened stores inside a center that still looks the way it has for decades.
What the Village Saw in May
The first public look at the plan came at a special meeting of Hinsdale's Economic Development Commission on May 20, 2026. Memishi presented early concept plans for rebranding and redeveloping 777 N. York Road. According to the meeting minutes, commissioners responded positively to the overall look and to a proposed entrance gateway off York Road.
The commissioners also offered two ideas of their own. They encouraged Memishi to consider a new name, "Gateway on York." They also suggested he go after businesses like Foxtrot and The Publican as tenants.
At least one tenant is already using a version of that name. The Book Nook gives its address as "The Gateway @ York, 777 N. York Rd. #9."
Walking the Courtyard, Unit by Unit
Every business here sits at the same 777 N. York Road address, so the unit number on the door is how you find it. As of publication, this is the lineup:
- Paris312, #1B. Paris312 sold party décor online for 10 years before opening this store. Co-founder and COO Niku Ghalkhani explained the idea to The Hinsdalean: "I can order my food and get it catered. Why can't my decor be that way?" The store is split in two. The retail side faces the courtyard. The production side faces the parking lot and holds giant helium tanks and ribbon in 20 shades of teal and blue alone.
- The Book Nook, #9. Alison Kozlow opened this children's bookshop on August 12. It stocks books for babies through teens, along with gifts like stuffed animals and book bags, and every title on the shelves is one she chose herself. The shop can also be rented for children's birthday parties or book club meetings.
- The Bar Method, Suite 19. The studio lists this address on its own site.
- Sage Wellness Sanctuary, #23. Sage's website lists its opening as late November 2026. Plans include a meditation and movement studio, private contrast-therapy suites, a wellness retail boutique and an elixir bar.
- I Design Salon & Blow Dry Bar, Suite 25. This longtime tenant moved to a different unit in the center in February and tripled its space. The new location added a Davines Signature Head Spa and a lash and brow bar.
Kozlow told The Hinsdalean that every business that opened at Gateway Square in the past year is female-owned. "We are partnering to make sure we bring Gateway back to its glory days," she said.
The Empty Spaces Explain the Plan
The vacancies show what the renovation is meant to bring in. A Village business update dated August 10 counted two vacant units at 777 N. York Road. In September, The Hinsdalean named two of the larger empty spaces: the former Hua Ting and the two-story restaurant building that was Fox's Pizza until 2018. Memishi called filling them a priority.
He told the paper what kind of tenant he has in mind:
"We think there is such incredible potential to include restaurants that can thrive throughout the day but also into the evening."
Right now the center runs on daytime hours.
When Each Door Is Open
These are the hours posted by the four businesses already operating. Sage, which lists its opening for late November 2026, is not included.
| Business | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Book Nook | Closed | Closed | 10–5 | 10–5 | 10–5 | 10–3 | 10–1 |
| Paris312 | Closed | 10–5 | 10–5 | 10–5 | 10–5 | 9–5 | 9–2 |
| I Design Salon | 9–5 | 9–8 | 8–8 | 8–6 | 8–6 | 8–5 | Closed |
| The Bar Method | 6–8 | 6–8 | 6–8 | 6–8 | 6–8 | 7:30–11:30 | 7:30–11:30 |
All four are open Wednesday through Friday, which makes those the easiest days to stop at both shops in one trip. On Monday, only the salon and the studio are open. On Sunday, the two retailers are open in the morning, the bookshop until 1 p.m. and Paris312 until 2 p.m. Every posted closing time is 8 p.m. or earlier, and that evening gap is the one Memishi's restaurant comment points to.
November at The Book Nook
Kozlow told The Hinsdalean she planned to add story times, book clubs, drop-in events and author readings. Her November calendar shows the first of those:
- November 13, 11 to 11:30 a.m.: Author Visit & Story Time
- November 19, 4 to 5:30 p.m.: Beginner needlepoint for children
- November 19, 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Beginner needlepoint for adults
- November 23 through 27: The shop is closed for the holiday
Check the events page before you go, since some programs need an RSVP and space is limited.
Paris312 has moved into holiday décor. Its Christmas collection includes balloon trees, holiday balloon columns, garlands, bouquets and centerpieces, and the company also offers delivery and installation.
How Gateway Fits Into the Village's Holiday Season
The Village's 2026 economic development calendar sets Small Business Season from November 1 through December 24. It also lists "Love Local Shop Hinsdale" as an annual marketing campaign. Gateway Square works as a daytime stop alongside the downtown events, which fill the calendar from late November on:
- November 29: Holiday Express leaves the Hinsdale Train Station and runs from 9 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. It goes to Aurora's Historic Roundhouse Restaurant for a meal, Santa, entertainment and crafts. Preregistration is required.
- December 4: The Hinsdale Chamber's 60th Christmas Walk runs from 5 to 7 p.m. downtown and in Burlington Park. Santa arrives, the tree is lit at Memorial Hall, and there are carousel and train rides.
- December 6: Winter Wonderland runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Katherine Legge Memorial Park, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Frozen characters, reindeer and crafts. Preregistration is required.
- December 12: Hinsdale for the Holidays is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Burlington Park, with horse-drawn carriage rides, gingerbread-cookie decorating and Santa.
- December 4, 12 and 19: The Chamber also lists Santa visits in Burlington Park on these dates.
The Christmas Walk is a Friday evening downtown. The Book Nook's Sunday hours run until 1 p.m. and Paris312's until 2 p.m., so a Sunday morning at the courtyard fits into the same weekend without overlapping.
At Gateway Square, the new tenants came first, and the courtyard rebuild, new lighting and York Road entrance are still to come. If you'd like to talk about how changes like this affect a home's value in Hinsdale, Lena Matariyeh and Community Connections Group are glad to walk you through it. Connect Now: Get Your Free Home Valuation.
