Butera's new Elgin stores delayed, but on the way

Two new Butera Market stores are still in the works in Elgin, although their opening was delayed from what initially anticipated.

Paul Butera Jr., the son of company founder Paul Butera Sr., said he hopes a new store at 20 Tyler Creek Plaza will open this summer.

The building held Eagle Fresh Market until 2003, and most recently a Home Plus Outlet.

The company also is working on concept drawings for a new store to be built at 880 Summit St., for which he expects to break ground this summer, Butera said. He didn't know when construction would be completed, he said.

"They're still coming," he said of the two new Elgin stores.

Elgin's Liquor Control Commission approved a liquor license for the Tyler Creek store last week.

Last August, the city council approved an economic incentive agreement that has the city rebating to Butera half the sales and alcohol tax revenues generated by the Tyler Creek store for 10 years, for an amount not to exceed $500,000.

The company is finalizing architectural drawings for the sub-40,000-square-foot Tyler Creek project, and will seek bids later this month or early May, Butera said.

Last year, Butera officials said the new 45,000-square-foot store on Summit Street would open in May or June.

Butera declined to specify the reasons behind the delay.

Additionally, a family member is in discussions to purchase the former Dominick's on Lake-Cook Road in Buffalo Grove, he said.

"They haven't determined the end user," Butera said, meaning the store could become a Butera or something else.

A website affiliated with Crain's Chicago Business in March cited unnamed real estate sources as saying that the store would soon be converted by Butera into a Piggly Wiggly.

Butera declined to give any more information.

"The grocery business is more competitive than ever," he said.

The company's headquarters will remain at its Clock Tower Plaza location in Elgin, he said. That location is more than 40,000 square feet, he said.

The company also operates grocery stores in South Elgin, St. Charles, Algonquin, Roselle, Naperville, Harwood Heights, Norridge and Lindenhurst.