What U-Haul has planned for Lake in the Hills Dominick's site
U-Haul International, which purchased the Lake in the Hills shopping center housing a shuttered Dominick's store for $5.05 million, plans to use the property for its operations and other retail uses, village officials said Tuesday.
The Phoenix-based moving and self-storage giant was the winning bidder in an online auction and closed on the sale last week.
The Centre at Lake in the Hills shopping center at Randall and Algonquin roads comprises 99,451 square feet of retail space in three buildings: the vacant Dominick's, adjacent in-line shops and an outlot strip building. The center was built in 1997 on 8.5 acres.
Village officials are working with U-Haul representatives on possible uses for the property. U-Haul will present concept plans to the village board May 8.
"We are excited," Village Administrator Jennifer Clough said. "It looks like it is going to be mutually beneficial. They are pursuing opportunities for dedicating a portion of the space for self-storage and retail sale of U-Haul materials, and some retail uses."
A spokeswoman for U-Haul could not immediately be reached for comment.
Since Dominick's closed in December 2013, the site has been eyed by many developers interested in dividing the 72,385-square-foot building among several businesses. Three interested retailers backed out of deals to fill the former supermarket.
Batavia-based discount grocer Aldi was considering building a 21,255-square-foot prototype store within a portion of the Dominick's building, according to village officials. It is unclear whether those plans are still in the works.
GNC, H&R Block and Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center are the remaining in-line shop tenants within the 10,346-square-foot attached strip mall on the property. That building has four vacant suites totaling 6,000 square feet facing Algonquin Road. A second building facing Randall Road comprises 16,720 square feet of retail space. Tenants include Einstein Brothers Bagels, Yumz Gourmet Yogurt and Jersey Mike's Subs. It has two vacant suites totaling 4,520 square feet.
"They will be using the strip center for U-Haul services and storage," Clough said. "They are in negotiations with retailers for rental of that (Dominick's) space."
Clough said the property is not zoned for self-storage and a zoning change request would need to go through the planning and zoning commission's hearing process.
Several separately owned properties, including Steak 'n Shake, Taco Bell, White Castle and Woods Creek Tavern, were not a part of the sale.