Medical office may move into former restaurant space in Hoffman Estates

While there’s no signs that Meijer will commit to anchor the mostly barren development off Barrington Road near I-90, Hoffman Estates officials opened the door so an orthopedics office could set up its practice.

The medical office would move into the former La Strada restaurant space that was vacated more than two years ago. It’s the third proposal for the building to come before the village board since last year. Credit problems nixed a proposal for a store that would have sold high-end televisions and speakers for home theaters. The village board also rejected a plan for a funeral home.

Mayor William McLeod supported the plan presented at Monday’s meeting, citing the number of jobs the office would create. Marshall Subach, an attorney representing the medical offices, said 15 to 40 jobs could be created. McLeod also said he liked that the office, Core Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, would be open six days a week and see 150 to 250 patients per day.

“So then we have a lot more traffic, and a lot more likelihood of people either dining in restaurants or doing some shopping, compared to the previous proposals,” McLeod said.

Core has offices in Elk Grove Village and the Hoffman Estates location would be an expansion where patients could have surgery and undergo rehab through physical therapy.

Surrounding businesses have been hurt by the lack of an anchor at the 55-acre development composed of multiple parcels with multiple land owners. That’s one of the reasons cited for La Strada’s closing. The owners have asked village officials for help attracting customers. The sluggish real estate market may be preventing any progress for the parcel. Meijer owns the land, and if the store doesn’t plan to build it could sell the land, but it could be waiting for the market to improve.

The village has been concerned to what type of businesses should move into the development. Meijer also holds covenants that restrict the type of tenants. For example, a drugstore would not be welcome, as it would compete with a Meijer’s pharmacy. Subach said the medical office would not interfere with future plans for the rest of the development.

McLeod during his February State of the Village speech said he expected a tablecloth restaurant to move back into the La Strada space.

That’s what Gregg Majewski would have preferred. He owns Jerseys Pizza and Grill, right next to La Strada. He attended Monday’s meeting and said he wasn’t happy with the plan for the medical office. He doesn’t think it will attract customers. Previously, Majewski said he felt cheated. He opened Jerseys with the notion that a big-box retailer would eventually move in and bring in hungry shoppers. That hasn’t happened, and he feels his investment hasn’t paid off since opening six years ago. But something is better than nothing, he said.

“At least the lights are on,” Majewski said.

McLeod said the area is already saturated with restaurants, so not having a new one to replace La Strada isn’t a loss. Village Manager James Norris also mentioned eateries in nearby South Barrington. McLeod is still hopeful for a big-box retailer to come into the development. The village had talks with Costco in 2009, but failed to progress.

“Hopefully when something happens and we get a big box or something that will open it up to other people,” McLeod said.