Historic Joliet Building May Host New Secondhand Bridal Boutique

A fresh retail idea could breathe new life into a century-old Joliet building. A proposed resale shop called Maison Maryanna is hoping to set up shop at 124 N. Ottawa Street, and officials will decide whether to give it the green light soon.

The plan centers on a compact 650-square-foot spot inside a four-story brick structure built way back in 1909. Dustin Anderson, who handles community development for the city, walked council members through the details. The building originally served the Hobbs family, who operated the Hobbs Hotel there for years before it got renamed Hotel Plaza.

Here is the thing though. Joliet has a rule. If a store plans to sell mostly pre-owned goods, it needs a special use permit first. That is exactly what Savanna Wilhelmi, the person behind this venture, applied for. The shop would carry used clothing, prom outfits, formal wear, accessories, jewelry, home decorations, and keepsakes. But the big focus would be on secondhand bridal gowns, which the applicant thinks the city desperately needs.

Operating hours would stick to weekdays from 11 in the morning until 5 at night. Still, the owner wants flexibility to stay open whenever downtown hosts evening or weekend gatherings. The building sits at the corner of Ottawa and Clinton Streets in an area where the rules allow all kinds of businesses to mix together, from restaurants and offices to banks and apartments.