Palatine leaders seeing signs of business recovery

Palatine business and village leaders say there are signs of recovery among businesses in Palatine, despite several large sites that remain unused.

Among the larger sites without tenants are the two former Dominick's locations at 615 E. Dundee Road and 720 W. Euclid Ave., the old Menards store at 1775 N. Rand Road, and the Whole Foods and TJ Max Home Goods stores located at the Park Place shopping complex at Rand and Dundee roads.

Mayor Jim Schwantz said there have been talks about new businesses going into those locations.

"I'm excited about the things on the horizon," Schwantz said. "But I've been excited before and things haven't happened."

Schwantz said there have been times when projects are almost at the finish line before something on the private side happens and they fall apart.

Schwantz said developers planning on building anew at the old Anthem Grill restaurant at 704 W. Euclid Ave. canceled their plans when the nearby Dominick's closed just a month before they were to turn in their application to the village.

"So the things we do control, we are doing as good as we can do them," Schwantz said. "We are providing the best services in water, electricity, police and fire."

Deputy Village Manager Mike Jacobs said there has been an increase in requests for special use and building permits, which is one of the best indicators the village has in determining which way local business is headed.

"We are trending up the last year or two from where we were," Jacobs said.

Jacobs said the work being done to the old Applebees is a good example of how large companies see Palatine as a viable business location. The restaurant at 781 E. Dundee Road will be the site of a new retail complex that includes national chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill, Jersey Mike's Subs and Starbucks.

"The fact that they're building a multiuse complex with national uses that the community is excited to have is a good sign," Jacobs said. "Businesses still recognize Palatine as a great market."

Mindy Phillips, the director of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, agreed that appears to be the case.

"There's definitely more activity going on than we had seen," Phillips said. "There are less closures, more interest in moving forward with things."

The business community isn't spending as freely as it did before the recession, though.

"People are still keeping close tabs on their dollars," Phillips said.

Jacobs said that people shouldn't expect to see an overnight transformation. While there are ongoing discussions about filling empty store fronts, sometimes things just take a little longer than people want them to, he said.