Hot dogs, ice cream fill vacancies in Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich residents will enjoy hot dogs and ice cream as two new businesses fill vacant storefronts in downtown Lake Zurich in time for the summer sun.

Delicious Redds, a carryout hot dog project, will fill 2 and 6 E Main St., formerly occupied by Main Dog and Century Press. My Flavor It Place, an ice cream store, will set up shop nearby at 10 E. Main St. Both businesses have leases starting June 1.

These new businesses are unrelated to the agreement the village signed with Equity Services Group to redevelop downtown. ESG has until September 2010 to submit its first project proposal.

Dale Perrin, executive director of the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce, said he is thrilled to see those spaces filled. Although he did not know exactly how many vacant storefronts the village has, he said the number is about average.

"Unfortunately we have a lot of large, very visible vacant areas that makes it look a lot worse," Perrin said.

Specifically, large lots that once contained Wickes Furniture, Office Depot and Kmart are along high traffic areas of Route 12.

Di Pieros owner Bob Narcisi also owns the new Delicious Redds, and anticipates a warm welcome from the community. He hopes to open the carryout restaurant before June.

"Summer is a nice time to introduce something like that. There is activity and people walk around," he said.

Narcisi also plans to expand his Italian restaurant and pizzeria that has been part of Lake Zurich for 35 years. He wants to add a dining room as soon as he can work out the details with the village.

Perrin hopes this will spur more new businesses to come to the village.

"The hope is some people will see, 'OK, this business is starting and maybe it's not such a bad thing to start a business right now,'" he said.