Fresh Thyme, Burlington coming to Fabyan Crossing in Geneva

The Geneva strip mall along the Randall Road corridor that formerly housed the old Dominick's grocery store is getting a makeover.

Not only are crews doing work to make the Fabyan Crossing strip center look better, but they are bringing in new stores as well.

The center has signed leases with Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Burlington Stores, known to many by its former name of Burlington Coat Factory, said Tom Walsh, director of leasing with Abbell Associates, which is leasing out part of the strip center.

The two stores will be splitting the former Dominick's grocery store building.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a grocery store laid out similar to a farmers market, with fruits and vegetables, many of them organic and locally grown. It also carries natural meats, seafood, ready-to-eat meals made in the store's kitchen, and other grocery staples.

There are stores throughout the Chicago area and in the Midwest. Some nearby Fresh Thyme locations include Crystal Lake, Naperville, Mount Prospect and Downers Grove.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market will be taking up 29,975 square feet of the old Dominick's store.

Burlington will occupy 40,084 square feet of the former grocery store. It sells clothes, shoes and of course coats, as well as jewelry, accessories, and some home items, all at discounted prices.

Both of the stores are expected to open some time in 2018, Walsh said.

The former Dominick's closed in 2013 when the grocery store chain went out of business, closing many stores up and down the Randall Road corridor from Geneva to Lake in the Hills.

In addition to filling the vacancy left by the old Dominick's, there are two spaces available to fill to the north of the store, one at 9,854 square feet and the other at 5,087 square feet, Walsh said.

They are next to one another and could be combined into one for a larger store to occupy the space, if needed, he said. Previously, they housed Plato's Closet, a used clothing resale shop, and Five Below, which sells trinkets, trendy items, and more for $5 and under.

Also opening:

At the far north end of the center another new store is slated to occupy the former Dollar Tree.

In 2018, it will open as an O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Better visibility:

In addition to bringing in new retail stores to fill Fabyan Crossing, the strip center is getting a makeover.

There is work happening on the berm in front of Fabyan Crossing, which includes lowering it and cutting down trees so the retail spots within the mall are more visible. There also will be larger signs listing all of tenants, making them more visible to Randall Road travelers.

"The big win for everyone in the center, and in the immediate area, is the new facade between Gander Mountain and Best Buy and the planned upgrade of landscaping and signage throughout the project," Walsh said.

"This will provide greatly improved site lines along Randall Road and a more contemporary retail environment at an important retail intersection," he said.

• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036