Elgin's northwest side no longer a 'food desert'

Until Butera Market opened on Elgin's northwest side, local residents had to drive at least two miles to find a good selection of fresh fruit and vegetables.

They could buy essentials like milk and bread at a convenience store, but only at steeper prices than grocery stores, said resident Deidre Snelson Plavsic, whose parents live near the new store at 20 Tyler Creek Plaza.

City officials had called the area a "food desert" because of limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. That all changed in the past week, with Butera's soft opening Dec. 5 followed by an official opening Wednesday.

"My parents were super excited," she said. "It's nice to see something done with the space because it's been empty for so long."

The space held until 2003 an Eagle Fresh Market, where Snelson Plavsic held her first job at age 15, and later a Home Plus Outlet.

Gilberts resident Savannah Lira said she remember going to Eagle as a little girl.

"I am excited (about the new Butera) because it was vacant for so long," she said Friday, shopping for groceries and a birthday cake for her boyfriend. "I saw the sign was up and came right away."

Joseph Butera, president of Butera Market, said the company is "very pleased" about the foot traffic at the new store so far. Butera cited construction delays for the later-than-anticipated opening.

"Everything in the store, from the roof down, was replaced new. Electric, plumbing, refrigeration - pretty much everything," he said.

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's headquarters are above the Clock Tower Plaza location in Elgin.

Mayor David Kaptain, who lives nearby in the Eagle Heights subdivision, estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 people now have a grocery store within a short distance.

"It really makes a difference for people, their ability to get someplace and get the food that they need and make quick runs," he said.

Elgin won't be losing as much in sales tax revenues to Woodman's Markets in Carpentersville, he added.

Butera is still planning to build a new store at 880 Summit St., Joseph Butera said.

The store initially was slated to open in summer 2014. Company representatives later said groundbreaking would take place in summer 2014, but no work has started yet. Butera declined to comment further.