E. Dundee snags new business

A business that specializes in snow and ice removal is moving its administrative offices to East Dundee.

Tovar Snow Professionals, now headquartered in Elgin, has reached an agreement with the village to move into the site that once housed the IGA grocery store in the 100 block of Penny Avenue. As part of the deal, TSP will buy and renovate the neglected structure into an office space for up to 35 workers, with hopes of adding 20 more employees within the next 10 years. The building’s sale is expected to close March 7 and construction would start soon after. Authorities hope to complete the transition by July 1, said Steve Bednarz, executive vice president of Tovar Snow Professionals.

“We found the right type of building ... and basically, we figured East Dundee is going to be an up-and-coming business corridor and it would be a good place,” Bednarz said, adding that the company will maintain a branch office in Elgin.

East Dundee will use money from both a business district and a proposed tax increment finance district to help TSP offset 50 percent of its renovation costs, now estimated at $350,000, said Interim Village Administrator Bob Skurla.

The new tax increment finance district would incorporate TSP and the village will also move the business district’s boundaries on routes 68 and 72 to include TSP. That allows East Dundee to use funds from either district to support TSP’s renovation efforts.

“We are doing the double whammy there,” Skurla said.

The old grocery store building most recently housed the Rakow Business Furniture store and sat vacant for at least four years. As a result, it has a variety of structural problems, such as roofing issues, broken pipes and mold, Skurla said.

TSP, which authorities hope spurs other business development, probably saved the building from the wrecking ball.

“Had it gone another year or two without occupancy, it would have been in such a dilapidated state that it would not have been financially feasible just to renovate it,” Skurla said.

TSP has been in Elgin for 15 years and also maintains offices in Franklin Park, Marengo, Lockport and Rolling Meadows. Some of its clients include Motorola, Soldier Field, Navy Pier and McCormick Place.