In the days leading up to Thanksgiving (a deep-fried Korean Thanksgiving, perhaps), spend a Stars Hollow-inspired day wandering through Lemont Downtown. If you can’t make it to Burbank, California, find a little small-town magic right here. Like Stars Hollow, the real charm here is the people. Our shopkeepers know their regulars, swap recommendations, and make every stop feel like you’ve been coming for years. Grab coffee, browse the shops, and … oy with the poodles already – let’s get to the list!
1. The Gazebo: Legion Park
111 Main St.
“Every time I leave town, even for just a little while, I always expect everything to look different.” - Lorelai
“And it never does.” - Rory
“It never does.” - Lorelai
Start your day under the gazebo at Legion Park, reminiscent of the iconic Stars Hollow gazebo on the Warner Bros. backlot. A staple of the studio's famous Midwest Street set for nearly a century, the gazebo has appeared in everything from The Music Man and The Waltons to Hart of Dixie and, of course, Gilmore Girls.
Take a selfie, snap a few photos of the gazebo, and tag @LemontDowntown on social media. It's the perfect place to start.
2. Luke's Diner: Folklore Coffee
214 Main St.
“I need coffee in an IV.” - Lorelai Gilmore
A Stars Hollow-inspired day couldn’t begin with anything other than a stop for coffee. Head to Folklore for a cup just the way you like it. Check out their seasonal menu or stick with the classics - Tess Abbasi's coffee shop is just as worthy of a daily visit as Luke's - and cell phones are allowed.
3. Sophie's Music: Moose Vinyl
238 Main St.
“If you're out on the road, feeling lonely and so cold. All you have to do is call my name and I'll be there on the next train.” - "Where You Lead" Carole King
While we may not have Carole King, Conor Welsch is building a legacy for a new generation of music lovers at Moose Vinyl. Browse new and vintage records, discover something unexpected and get recommendations from the people who know their music. Not sure where to start? Pick an album cover you like and see where it takes you.
4. Kim's Antiques: The Vault or Smokey Row Antiques
The Vault: 408 Main St. | Smokey Row Antiques: 112 Stephen St.
“Watch it. You break it, you buy it. Ten percent off for cousins, twenty percent off for nephews and nieces.” - Mrs. Kim
Mrs. Kim would certainly approve of the antique options in Lemont. Browse the newly opened The Vault Antiques & Décor or Smokey Row Antiques for vintage collectibles, Chicago memorabilia, retro decor, and more treasures you didn't know you needed.
5. Town Hall Meeting: The Living Room
102 Stephen St.
“It's a town meeting. We have rules. We have bylaws. We have chairs!” - Taylor Doose
While The Living Room won't be hosting an official town meeting like the ones in the show, its cozy atmosphere and aesthetic are reminiscent of Miss Patty's School of Ballet, where Stars Hollow's town meetings were held. Grab your second cup of coffee here! Add pumpkin spice to any drink this season or try their cold brew that’s blended, roasted, and extracted by Pollyanna Coffee Roasting.
6. Stars Hollow Books: Three Stories BooksTORE
310 Canal St.
“I live in two worlds. One is a world of books.” - Rory Gilmore
You probably won't find Jess Mariano sitting and reading on the floor here (although Milo Ventimiglia did film a television pilot in Lemont this year), but you will find plenty of great books at Three Stories Bookstore! Owner Carla Cardona-Tapia is ready to help you find your next read. Like Rory, you have to fill your backpack with at least four books: two bus books, a lunch book, and short stories.
7. Al's Pancake World: Wok'd
116 Stephen St.
“Al's Pancake World does not stink ... Al stinks.” - Lorelai Gilmore
One of the show's long-running jokes was that Al's Pancake World wasn’t a pancake restaurant at all - it was a Chinese restaurant, making Wok’d a fitting stop for lunch. While Al remained an unseen character throughout the series, Wok’d owner Angela Terrafino isn’t. Her restaurant serves Asian comfort food with bold flavors, thoughtful ingredients and plenty of options for different tastes and dietary restrictions. Nearly the entire menu offers gluten-free options, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices, too.
8. Walk and Talk Around Lemont Downtown
“We had zero money, which is why I just walked Lauren and Alexis in circles in Burbank endlessly because we couldn't go anywhere. Burbank there's mountains, but the show is set in Connecticut. You figure it out.” - Amy Sherman-Palladino
After lunch, walk, talk, and shop around town. Take a stroll past local favorites like Allegro Music & Dance Academy (a little Miss Patty's energy) and stop into boutiques like Jilley’s and Jaclyn Sue to find the cutest clothes and maybe some graphic tees (better designed than Kirk’s “Babette Ate Oatmeal,” “Faux Poes Foes,” etc.). Don’t forget to stop at Mabel's Market at 307 Canal St. for vintage home décor and unique finds. Ask the owner, Sommer Steele, to tell you about when Alexis Bledel stopped in here to shop while filming a movie in Lemont!
9. Weston's Bakery: Neima Coffee & Cafe
317 Front St.
“‘Coffee, coffee, coffee' is a saying, like an exaggeration. It's a funny, desperate cry for caffeine. It’s just my thing, because everyone knows I drink a lot of coffee so the day can’t start until I’ve had my jolt. It’s a bit. It’s my bit. It’s not a particularly funny bit unless you know me and then … you know, three coffees would be great. ” - Lorelai Gilmore
Fran Weston’s fictional bakery was known for its impressive selection of 32 kinds of pie and Ghada Muhsen’s Neima Coffee & Cafe offers a similar variety of cheesecake, along with freshly baked pastries, croissants, and specialty lattes. Stop in for an afternoon treat or another cup of coffee before continuing your Stars Hollow-inspired stroll through Lemont Downtown.
10. Gnomes & Other Gems: Aster Gardens
202 Stephen St.
“Gnome-kicking says a lot about a man's character.” - Babette Dell
Stop by Aster Gardens, an indoor plant and garden boutique run by horticulturist and author Amanda Thomsen. Browse houseplants, outdoor garden goods and plenty of quirky finds, including gnomes that would make Babette and Pierpont proud.
11. Taylor's Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe: The Creamery
400 E. Illinois St.
“But if you know you already like lime, then you're not sampling, you're savoring, and that's just gluttonous.” - Taylor Doose
Indulge in one last treat before heading home and complete your Stars Hollow-inspired day with a stop at the Creamery. The Sisk family’s local ice cream shop serves handcrafted ice cream, frozen treats, hot chocolate, and more.
With Lighting Up Lemont and Hometown Holiday right around the corner, there's only one thing left to say: I smell snow.
Where to Park
There's plenty of parking throughout downtown, including free public lots, street parking, and a parking garage on River Street. Coming from Chicago? The Metra station is right across from Legion Park, making it an easy starting point for your day.