‘Twas a week before Christmas when suddenly appeared a news release with photos of Mr. Monopoly making his way to Naperville. And the iconic, mustachioed mascot invites local enterprises to be part of his next real estate venture!
In collaboration with Hasbro, a leading games and toy company, Top Trumps USA, the American division of Winning Moves International and creators of classic games and puzzles, will debut MONOPOLY: Naperville Edition next fall.
The company is seeking well-established Naperville businesses and nonprofits to participate in this historic tribute featuring the city.
To ensure the board captures the most essential elements of Naperville, Hasbro and Top Trumps USA are calling for the input of Naperville locals and business owners, inviting them to nominate their own or their favorite businesses and nonprofits to be part of the board for life – a momentous opportunity that folks will cherish for generations. Public submissions and business inquiries can be sent to naperville@toptrumps.com. Selections are ongoing now through March 6, 2026, so submit early to have the highest chance of claiming a spot.
“Naperville holds a unique blend of small-town charm, big-city amenities, and a community that’s really proud of its roots. With MONOPOLY: Naperville Edition, we want the board to feel like a true reflection of what locals and visitors love most about this city,” said Lindsay Wallace, a Top Trumps representative. “From local gems and family-run businesses to historic Naperville staples, we would love for everyone to get on board and send us recommendations of their favorite places around town.”
And that’s when my knowledge of Naperville started an email exchange with publicist Elise Blūma.
“I’ll let Brand Bobosky, founder of Century Walk with 50-plus art projects featured on tour throughout town, know you have Mr. Monopoly pictured with two of his projects,” I noted.
And I went on to explain that many years ago, as a young adult in New York City, I had established and owned Creative Cakes on E. 74th Street where one-of-a-kind chocolate cakes were my specialty. When the popular board game had turned 50, I recalled designing a cake in the likeness of a MONOPOLY board.
“I’d also love to see a picture of the cake you designed if you have it handy—what an amazing story!” Elise replied.
Photos of Creative Cakes are saved in dozens of albums stashed in a cupboard in our basement, so I thought what the heck. Why not check?
Flipping pages in search of the Monopoly cake brought back a rush of memories! Finally, I found a faded Polaroid photo of the cake with a notation—“Monopoly is 40 this year.”
I took a shot of the page with four photos, now mindful it was Monopoly’s 40th year (Not the 50th). And I recalled the wonderful time I’d enjoyed creating one-of-a-kind chocolate cakes as a young adult before marriage and before children until I sold the business in 1986.
With photos attached, I sent another email to Elise. “Everybody loved our chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe that my grandmother used. The recipe was created in the kitchens at Purdue University during the 1930s where my grandfather was an agricultural economist. He gave the recipe to my grandmother who among others began using it as it got tastier a day or two after it was baked…”
“Oh, I absolutely love this!” Elise replied. “… I always wonder how bakers are able to create masterpieces like yours and make them edible. The other cakes in the photo look fantastic, too—so thoughtful and detailed!
“What an amazing legacy you have to pass down from generation to generation!” Elise continued. “I never would’ve thought to put mayonnaise in a cake. Then again, my mom’s apple cake recipe that I make around the holidays calls for sour cream which really does make a difference, so I suppose it’s the unexpected ingredients that are the secret.”
The email exchange was an enjoyable change of pace. In response to the request to help get the word out about Naperville MONOPOLY, I replied that PN always waits until after the New Year to publish in January and plans to go to press on Jan. 5.
Elise closed with more kind words, “That sounds great re: featuring the MONOPOLY story in early January! It will be great for refreshing the news in everyone’s minds after the break. Looking forward to seeing it go live!”
MONOPOLY: Naperville Edition, priced at $22.49, will replace the perennial board game’s famous Atlantic City squares, from Boardwalk to Park Place, with Naperville businesses, nonprofits and landmarks. The Naperville board also will include a customized Community Chest, Chance playing cards and MONOPOLY Money, ensuring each detail of the game pays homage to our Naperville community.
MONOPOLY: Naperville Edition will debut in fall 2026 and will be available in stores and online at retail partners, including Barnes & Noble, Amazon and select local Naperville retailers. To learn more about MONOPOLY city experience boards, visit us.toptrumps.com/.
Submit to MONOPOLY: Naperville Edition
MONOPOLY since 1935
With 90 years in the market and over one billion players in 114 countries, MONOPOLY is the world’s favorite family game brand and global phenomenon. Known for its timeless fun, strategy and friendly competition, MONOPOLY invites consumers across generations to step into a world where opulence and villainy collide and all is fair in the race for riches. With a growing list of 300+ culturally relevant editions and new ways to play – from in-person experiences to digital platforms, casino games and more – there’s truly a MONOPOLY for everyone.
– Stephanie Penick
PN Publisher
