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Caputo's developers eye restaurant for Carol Stream

The family-run grocery store chain that owns a Carol Stream shopping center anchored by Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets plans to build a third outlot building, far short of the original vision for the nearly 30-acre site on North Avenue and Schmale Road.

No tenants have been announced for the 6,000-square-foot building, but plans from architects show outdoor seating, so Caputo's apparently is looking to draw a restaurant to the Carol Stream Marketplace Shopping Center, Community Development Director Don Bastian said Tuesday.

Fresh Markets opened more than a year ago in fall 2014, boosted by an economic incentive package awarded by the village. The grocery store moved into the front section of a renovated warehouse that also houses Caputo's corporate offices and distribution and production facilities.

The redevelopment initially called for 10 outlot buildings with a potential of 78,000 square feet for retailers, restaurants and other businesses. Two were constructed speculatively, or before locking in tenants. Today, mattress and cellphone retailers, a dentist's office and SportsClip fill the spaces.

"I'm not sure they will ever get to that number of outlot buildings," Bastian said.

One factor is the market, he said. Caputo's is both owner and developer and hires architects and civil engineers, Bastian said.

"They're running a grocery chain store as well, so I think, to some extent, I think they're motivated to see the full development of the outlot (properties)," he said.

The plan commission is set to review the latest proposal Monday, Dec. 14. Then the village board will review the plans, which do not include a drive-through, for a building south of an existing parking lot on Schmale Road. If approved, Caputo's hopes to begin construction in spring 2016.

The village has not encountered any significant concerns, Bastian said, but has sought more information from architects on buffering outdoor seating from the parking lot.

"We are most interested in the addition of quality, desirable businesses for the community, to increase the shopping opportunities for people both that live in Carol stream and people that drive up and down North Avenue every day," Bastian said.

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