Whole Foods to anchor proposed Mellody Farm center in Vernon Hills

Business Wire

VERNON HILLS - Regency Centers Corp. announced that Whole Foods Market has a lease to anchor Regency's proposed Mellody Farm, a 270,000-square-foot mixed-use experiential retail center at the northeast corner of Route 60 and Route 21 in Vernon Hills.

The plan includes specialty stores and restaurants, both local favorites as well as national brands. Enhanced peacemaking strategies such as 20-foot sidewalks and large gathering areas will produce a unique sense of place and energy at the development.

"Whole Foods Market is the perfect anchor for the type of project we are looking to create," said Matt Hendy, vice president of investments at Regency Centers. "They have a tremendous atmosphere in their stores that encourages customers to stay and enjoy themselves. We want Mellody Farm to be an experience, not a place where you just come to shop."

Michael Bashaw, regional president of Whole Foods Market Midwest, said the location will give the upscale grocery "the opportunity to serve new neighborhoods and make it easier for current customers to get all their favorite natural and organic groceries in a more convenient location."

In addition, Mellody Farm will feature 260 executive apartments adjacent to the center to be developed by a partnership of Focus Development Inc. and Atlantic Realty Partners, a regional multifamily development team.

It is the second collaboration between Regency and Focus, the first being (The Reserve and Glen Gate Shopping Center in Glenview.

"None of this could be possible without the economic support and leadership of the Village of Vernon Hills, as well as the political support of Lake County. The Memorandum of Understanding passed by the Village board last fall was instrumental in moving this forward," continued Hendy. "There is a lot of talent and experience coming together to help make this project a reality."

Additional enhancements will include addressing the traffic congestion issues located at the intersection of Route 60 and Route 21. The proposed improvements include adding traffic capacity at the juncture, which will include new lanes in almost every direction as well as renovations of existing traffic signal equipment and the addition of a new signal along Townline Rd. The result of the new improvements will be traffic functioning at a higher level of service than it does today, even after Mellody Farm is built and open to the public.