Capannari plans to move catering business to Mount Prospect

Capannari's, famous for its ice cream business in a historic building in downtown Mount Prospect, could move its growing catering business to the village from Des Plaines if a tax break goes through as expected.

This week, Mount Prospect trustees gave their approval to a Class 6b tax incentive to allow the catering facility to move into a 6,800-square-foot building at 701 N. Wheeling Road in the Kensington Business Center. The location was formerly occupied by Senate Electric and has been vacant for more than 19 months.

The 6b reduces the assessment level for industrial properties from 25 percent to 10 percent for a 10-year period, then slowly increases it back up to the full level after 12 years. The incentive also needs county approval to take effect.

One of the Capannari owners, Katie Dolan Dix, told the village board Tuesday that her business has grown beyond its retail ice cream business, which soon will celebrate 15 years at 10 S. Pine St. In the last several years, it has branched out into corporate catering, purchasing a 2,000-square-foot space on Mount Prospect Road in Des Plaines for its offices and the equipment.

The catering operation has grown to the point where it exceeds retail revenues, getting 80 percent of its business in Chicago, she said.

Capannari's will serve, for example, 2,000 people in two hours for such events as staff appreciation celebrations. A recent client was the FBI, she said.

Capannari's has been looking for a new space for two years, viewing properties in Elk Grove Village, Lake County and DuPage County, she said.

"Mount Prospect has been so good to us at the retail level, so it's really important for us to be back here," she said. "We loved Kensington Business (Center). We just couldn't find something until this came up."

Trustees expressed their overwhelming support.

"You have been a mainstay in our town for years," said Trustee Richard Rogers

"You're absolutely part of the community and in many ways have helped put Mount Prospect on the map," Trustee Paul Hoefert said.

Trustee Steven Polit said the request showed "that the 6b is working, because it's attracting small businesses, not just big businesses."