Lake Barrington strip mall to double in size

Work is underway to nearly double the size of the Pepper Park of Lake Barrington strip mall, where business owners say they've boosted their profits by working together.

Kathleen Scott, the director of business development for Pepper Park, said the construction will add 6,500 square feet of retail space to the 7,500 square feet built two years ago at 22000 N. Pepper Road, just north of Route 14.

"When we first broke ground in 2013, a lot of people rolled their eyes," Scott said. "They said 'Why would you put retail there, no one has been there for 25 years?'"

Scott, who also is the general manager at Pepper Park Coffee, said there has been a lot of interest from businesses looking to secure a store front in the new space. Pepper Park Coffee is among four current tenants of the shopping center.

Among those in discussions to move in are a nail salon, a national to-go pizza restaurant, a high-end dry cleaner and a small bistro and wine bar, Scott said.

Some of the new space may go to RSVP Rental Services, which moved into the center in December, but may slide over to a bigger space once the construction is complete, according to Camille Kelsey, who owns the store with her husband, Bob.

She said they used to run a store on Northwest Highway in Barrington for 10 years.

"We get a lot more walk-in traffic here," Camille Kelsey said. "Everybody does whatever they can to promote each other."

Scott said Lake Barrington business owners meet informally once a month.

"We are really using the economies of scale in the area to help the local businesses to boost each other up," she said. "We don't have that sense of competition with each other like in other places."

Jeramie Campana, the chef at Wild Asparagus Catering, said he's seen an increase in foot traffic since moving the business to Pepper Park from downtown Barrington. He said they may look to expand if RSVP moves to the new retail space.

"We've become a tight little family around here," Campana said of his fellow business owners.

Village Administrator Chris Martin said Pepper Park was the first divisible retail space to come to the village since the 1970s. It's both a reflection of the market and the increased traffic to the area from places like the Canlan Sportsplex, Kids In Action Gymnastics Academy and Battle House Laser Tag, he said.

"When there are big events going on there, you've got a couple thousand people showing up," Martin said.

Scott said another way Pepper Park businesses increase traffic is through the weekly farmers market, which runs from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Martin said the phase two construction at Pepper Park should be done in September.