Wal-Mart gets ready to build in Round Lake Beach
The building will be smaller than planned, but Wal-Mart finally appears ready to get started on its Supercenter in Round Lake Beach.
Nearly three years after receiving preliminary village approval, the replacement for the aging original in the Mallard Creek shopping center, is set to proceed on Route 83 and Monaville Road.
"We're going to be going out to (construction) bid next month," said Tara Stewart, Wal-Mart's regional director of media relations. Construction could begin in mid-October, with an opening in Fall 2009.
The footprint originally was much larger, but shrunk because of wetlands on the site. A proposed gas station was dropped, and the plan approved two years ago for about 204,000 square feet decreased to about 196,000 square feet in January with the removal of a tire and lube center. The village board on Monday agreed to further reduce it to about 176,000 square feet and approved changes to the exterior.
The Mallard Creek store, which opened in late 1988, is about 106,000 square feet.
Wal-Mart informed the village the changes were brought about, in part, by a desire to move from a more contemporary style that fit better in suburban and urban settings to one based on its rural beginnings.
Part of the refreshed image replaces the star in the company logo on the storefront with a small starburst after the name.
In any case, the nation's largest retailer can better afford to do more with less as it aggressively cuts energy costs.
"What's new about this location is the fact it is the new prototype," Stewart said. Though Supercenters still feature grocery sections, new buildings will be somewhat smaller with less parking area and a host of energy efficiencies.
"That makes the box more profitable if more can be done with less," according to Stewart.
Examples of energy saving measures include dimming floor lighting to 75 percent during the evening and night, using heat from refrigeration units to generate hot water, and 24-hour monitoring and adjustment of lighting and other systems.
"We use less water and we use less energy because we run so efficiently," Stewart said.
Village Administrator David Kilbane said the recent delay resulted as the company got hung up with permits for road improvements, including to Route 83 and intersections at Monaville and Engle roads.
"We want to make sure it's done right," Kilbane said. "We knew it was something that wouldn't happen quickly."
The status of the existing store is unknown. The owner of the Mallard Creek shopping center was considering a revamp of the entire center but details weren't immediately available.