New stores breathe life into Main Street Commons mall

Don't look now, but a shopping area on the east side of St. Charles looks like it is making a nice comeback.

Nope, it's not the Charlestowne Mall. That ship sailed a few years ago - if not more than a few.

We're talking about the Main Street Commons, which is located on the south side of Main Street, across from what is left of Charlestowne Mall.

That particular strip has had its ups and downs, with more than a few empty storefronts since the recession stranglehold in 2009 and 2010.

With a TJ Maxx recently opening there on the east end, a Ross department store is about to open at the west end in the former Borders location.

In between, Ulta, Stein Mart and World Market remain in place, and a Five Below discount store is taking another open spot.

In some ways, it's shaping up in similar fashion to a retail strip in Geneva along Randall Road that also has Ulta, Ross Dress for Less and Five Below locations.

But the east side of St. Charles is definitely far enough away from Randall Road to have similar stores.

Some still empty:

Even with the Main Street Commons picking up some retail steam, there are still some empty locations in St. Charles that make you wonder what would ultimately turn up in these spots.

The empty Butera grocery store represents a large chunk of retail space in the Foxfield Commons shopping center strip to the west of Main Street Commons, as well as the nearby corner spot next to Butera that once housed a Sears appliance store.

While there have been periodic talks or requests in the past, there currently are no serious discussions with suitors for the Butera spot. However, the city recently issued a building permit for Hines Supply Showroom to take over that former Sears location and is anticipating a remodel unfolding soon.

Across the street from those spots, the Sweet Tomatoes restaurant location remains empty. When I worked on that side of town, Sweet Tomatoes was a favorite spot. So I still wonder what happened to that franchise.

A potential buyer of that restaurant property has not stepped forward, and no other businesses have contacted the city to ask about it.

Another head-scratcher:

Of all of the retail locations that remain empty in our downtowns, it seems that the spot next to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles should be an ideal location for some type of business that could be tied in to the entertainment venue.

The city understands what this location, which years ago housed George's Sporting Goods, could mean to Main Street. In fact, the city owns it, said Rita Tungare, the community and economic development director for St. Charles.

"The city purchased the George's building with an eye on it becoming a complementary use to the theater," Tungare said. "This goal is still present and we are working to create this synergy."

Currently, the same can't be said about the west side of the theater entrance, where Gordy's Quick Mart seems like it has been stuck in the state of remodeling for a year or more since the first "opening soon" signs went up.

But don't give up hope on this downtown convenience store.

"The interior build-out is under construction and they are in the process of scheduling final inspections on the project," Tungare said of the Gordy's site. "We anticipate work will be completed in four to six weeks and it should be open for business."

We'll keep our fingers crossed on all of this, as it only makes sense that the downtown's most popular drawing card in the Arcada should have businesses around it that benefit everyone.

Donnie's history lesson:

It was sort of like being star-struck, but for Alison Costanzo it was more along the lines of being impressed how much actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg wants to know about the history of his current hometown of St. Charles.

The executive director of the St. Charles History Museum spent a couple of hours with the Hollywood actor and New Kids on the Block singer at the museum earlier this month as Wahlberg was researching things he could incorporate into his Wahlburgers restaurant coming to the city's west side.

"He was really excited about learning more about St. Charles," Costanzo said of her popular visitor. "But he had camera crews with him and his visit is going to be on the 'Wahlburgers' show on A&E in about six to nine weeks."

Wahlberg spotted the display at the museum about St. Charles being known as the pickle capital of the world in the past, as well as one about the first municipal lights used in the city.

"He wants to use that sort of look in some way on the outside of the restaurant," Costanzo said. "But he really loved the photo of the trolley car going down Main Street, so we were excited to be able to help him with things like that."

It's all part of an exciting time at the museum, which has been gearing up for its annual Best of St. Charles Foodie Fest fundraiser, which takes place 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 23.

"Those interested can still get tickets at the event," Costanzo said. She also reminded me that the winner of the community raffle the museum orchestrates will be chosen at the food fest. Those raffle tickets also can be purchased at the museum and the food fest.

A supper club:

The sign on the door at the former Chez Moi restaurant in Geneva says that The Walrus Room is coming soon to that location.

But it also says the restaurant will be "a take on a Midwest Supper Club."

So for the younger folks out there who may not have ever heard that phrase or know much about that concept, here's your quick history lesson.

Supper clubs, which were popular in smaller towns and rural areas in this part of the country, basically operated as a one-stop place for dining and nightclub activities.

Folks would stop there for their cocktails, dinner and then an evening imbibing and dancing.

We don't know yet what The Walrus Room plans to provide in what is a fairly small location on State Street, but we like the idea of someone reviving that supper club look and feel.

dheun@sbcglobal.net