Panera latest eatery to eye new Randhurst Village

In this economy, there are no guarantees when it comes to commercial development.

That's why Mount Prospect officials are pleased with the progress at the new Randhurst Village open-air retail center, even if they'd like to see quicker occupancy of the smaller spaces.

“You look at the economy, and you can't help but be encouraged at what's happening there,” Community Development Director Bill Cooney said.

Panera Bread is one of the latest businesses to consider opening in Randhurst. The company has applied for zoning approval that would allow it to open a drive-through restaurant in one of the outlets along Route 83, Cooney said.

Should Panera be approved — the request will considered later this fall — it would join a number of eateries that have already opened on site or plan to in the future, including the Billy Goat Tavern and BlackFinn restaurant.

“Having a strong mix of retail stores and restaurants will be really good for the center,” Cooney said.

Randhurst Village opened earlier this summer at Rand and Elmhurst roads, replacing an indoor mall on the site that was the first of its kind in the region. The new development is opening in phases, and construction continues on the site. Cooney said that roughly 85 percent of the new center is occupied.

Filling the smaller storefronts has been the biggest challenge so far, but Cooney said that's to be expected in a down economy. In the meantime, the village and development company Casto Lifestyle Properties continue to refine the site and seek quality tenants.

“We're going to be tweaking some roadway issues in response to some concerns,” Cooney said. “Overall, things are looking great. The feedback we've received has been overwhelmingly positive. There's some real energy out there.”