Super Wal-Mart on Randall is still a go

They say plans for the Super Wal-Mart along Randall Road in Elgin still are going ahead.

But if you see anything happening at that site, it probably won't be until the spring.

I know many of you have been driving by, hoping to see signs of life at the Randall and Bowes intersection.

And many of you keep e-mailing, wondering exactly what is happening, and if we're still going to see that Wal-Mart.

Though Wal-Mart has scrapped plans for other stores throughout the country recently due to the economy, the folks with the city of Elgin say they've been in close contact with Wal-Mart representatives, and the one at Bowes and Randall still is on the books.

The holdup, they say, has been higher than expected costs from Kane County for road improvements at that intersection.

Those issues now have been resolved, says Ray Moller, the city's director of economic development.

Now, Moller says, Wal-Mart is planning to break ground in the spring on the new store, more than a year behind schedule.

Wal-Mart has shortened its original time frame for building the store too, he said. Originally, plans were to build the store in 13 months.

The new plan, Moller said, is it will take less than a year from ground breaking to shopping.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Happy anniversary: The Village Vintner along Randall Road in Carpentersville recently celebrated its third anniversary. Congratulations!

Specials to celebrate: Also recently celebrating an anniversary was Garibaldi's along Randall Road in Carpentersville.

For the Italian eatery, it has been two years now along the Randall Road corridor.

To keep going strong and building a loyal customer base in this economy, owner Steve Carlson says he is offering his customers new specials, such as two slices of cheese pizza each day for $4, and an $8.99 16-inch cheese pizza.

He and his employees also are getting ready for be your holiday catering headquarters, serving up anything you need from sandwiches, to salads to pizzas.

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