MedExpress, new strip center coming to Algonquin
At the beginning of this year, it was just a pile of rubble surrounding some of the old walls that housed the Great Bank of Algonquin.
But now that property is taking shape into its new life, and becoming an urgent care and a retail strip center.
Many of you have driven by, wondering what exactly is happening at the former Great Bank property, on the west side of Randall in front of Home Depot, and when it will be open.
There are two buildings on the former bank property - one to the north at 226 S. Randall Road. That parcel will become a MedExpress building. It is an urgent care center, that is moving into the Chicago area.
Presently, MedExpress has locations in Peoria and Normal, but will be opening this year in Algonquin, and also opening locations in Round Lake and Waukegan.
The Algonquin location will be 4,797 square feet, said Ben Mason, senior planner for the village of Algonquin.
The multi-tenant retail use retail center on the south side of the property at 234 S. Randall Road will be a 9,914-square-foot retail strip center.
John Andreasik, director of construction for first First Midwest Group, which is building and leasing the project, said construction is expected to wrap up on the building by Nov. 3. By that time, he said, the building shell itself and the site should be complete.
After that, the individual tenants would be able to build out their own sites.
Andreasik said he could not yet release names of any of the tenants that will occupy the retail strip center. Others at First Midwest Group did not return calls for comment on talk of what businesses are going into the center.
The First Midwest Group broker listing the property, Bharat Puri, has the property listed on his site.
It says the retail spaces can go from 1,305 square feet up to 6,555 square feet.
Before the strip center, the land originally held the Great Bank in Algonquin, and then most recently Charter One Bank.
Mason said the bank property sold to a developer last year, and work began early this year.
Before that, the bank building had been sitting vacant on the site for many years, Mason said.
He said he believes Great Bank of Algonquin opened in the mid-1990s, and closed many years ago. After that, he said, Charter One Bank took over the building and started operating out of the Algonquin site.
Since Charter One Bank closed that location, the building has been sitting vacant. The new developer decided to tear the building down, and build something new in its place, Mason said.
Fall fest in Geneva:
The Geneva Commons Shopping Center will be hosting a fall fest this weekend for families looking to get into the fun of the season.
The event will take place at the shopping center along the Randall Road corridor from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29.
This year the mall's fall fun will include a maze of hay bales to navigate your way through.
If you'd rather ride than find, you can hop on a hay ride that will take you throughout the fest at the mall.
Back at the fall fest headquarters, there also will be a place where you can paint your own pumpkin, compete in an adult and kid cornhole contest and other games, and get your face painted.
There also will be entertainment at the Geneva Commons fall fest, including balloon art, a DJ, a scarecrow, a stiltwalker and a live pumpkin.
As part of the festivities there will be free treats to eat and a chance to win raffle prizes.
During the fall fest, the stores and restaurants at the mall will be open.
For information, contact the mall at (630) 262-0044.