Junction City Shopping Center — Local services in Peoria

First, take one stroll around Junction. You'll hear and feel the difference in your footsteps on its soft, wooden walkways, possibly the only retail boardwalk experience like it in Illinois. It is just cool. Combines the architectual feel of an old railroad "junction" town from the American frontier. The brick and boxwood and outdoor seating accents feel more like a five-star resort than a retail space.

Junction City was constructed in 1956 in the same year as nearby Richwoods High School, both to meet the needs of the growing suburban Peoria. For many years, Junction stood as an aging backdrop to the vibrant and popular old train car restaurant, Vonachen's Old Place. Thousands of older Peoria residents will recall the special occasions they had there, like my own 8th grade graduation party at VOP.

Today, the old railcar is gone. Junction is no longer the backdrop. It is the attraction. And that old vibrancy of VOP at its peak has been transferred to Junction City as a whole. There is much to see.

There's Central Illinois' finest (perhaps only) public English box garden. There's the most intimate outdoor dining. Some of Peoria's best dining options (ranging from wood fired pizza, Chinese, sushi, Mexican and classic American, and long-time high-end caterer Cyd Hendrickson's eat-in space is as hip as any contemporary New York diner), boutique shops, a famous pharmacy, frozen yogurt, a pocket bar and a barber shop, dry cleaners, and the most talked about exercise space in town. Tucked in between, there are office spaces for law, counseling, finance and even the private foundation for public schools. A stand-alone speciality sports and recreational retailer added an attractive modern anchor to the complex in 2015.

All this retail is augmented by some if the best special programming in town like an outdoor farmer's market, art shows, wine and whiskey tastings, and live music. Don't miss stepping up to the order window at the airstream in the parking lot from which made-to-order warm dessert crepes are seasonally and exclusively available in all of Central Illinois!

Peoria has a number of very good retail experiences that set us apart, but there's an intimacy and social quality about Junction unlike any other retail space in the entire state of Illinois.

In 2005, local entrepreneurs Beth and Alexis Khazzam bought Junction and brought about an amazing transformational renaissance of Peoria's original retail center. Junction City has emerged as an energetic and aesthetically original landmark that serves as a gateway between north and central Peoria, at the nexus of the historic and beautiful scenic river bluff drive of Prospect Road.

These owners and their terrific tenants representing some of the local legends take great pride in what Junction City represents about our community. In response, our community has embraced Junction City among its proudest and most...

For being off Prospect and Knoxville, it's easier to get to than most locations, with multiple entries and exits. Junction City is a one stop-multi shop for everything. Literally, you can get almost anything. Lawyer services? ✔️ Italian food? ✔️ Crafts? ✔️ Realty services? ✔️ Adventure/Camping/Fishing supplies? ✔️ This place has it all. It's beautiful, plentiful parking, well taken care of, and it's not all that expensive at most of the locations. (I cannot guarantee that lawyer services may or may not be that inexpensive) All in all, you get a nostalgic, old school experience seeing the buildings, but get treated to innovation and technology inside...

Junction City shopping center is a really nice area and up-to-date. There are a lot of different shops that you can visit and you can spend some time here. One of my favorite places out here is sweet Ceces Frozen yogurt! They have a variety of different frozen yogurts every week and you can top them with any toppings that you like, some of them are even freshly baked and cut. The scenery is very beautiful and you can do casual shopping, have dinner, and dessert as well! Coming out to Junction City and check out all the...