New Des Plaines storefront looks for tenants

A newly built retail structure in Des Plaines has remained vacant since January as a search continues for possible tenants.

The Vandercar Development at 849 Elmhurst Road, near Dempster Street, has room for as many as six storefront businesses, but one single tenant could fill all of the building's 8,400 square feet of space, said Jennifer Kaufman, senior associate with Zifkin Realty and Development, which is marketing the property. They've met with prospective tenants, including potential medical office users, which are highest on "our target list," Kaufman said.

Other typical users of such retail space are salons, day-care centers, or cell-phone stores, she said.

Robert Stack, president of Trotter Development, the building's developer, said he's looking for any kind of general retail tenant that will fit. The property includes room for 60 parking spaces.

Vandercar is located next to an existing Jewel-Osco, which Kaufman said is an advantage.

"Tenants like to have grocery cotenancy. They'd do extremely well in that location. But the economy obviously has made our life a little more challenging," Kaufman said.

The building's low visibility off Elmhurst Road might also be hurting its chances at gaining tenants. The development is tucked into a corner behind the existing grocery store and a newly constructed Fifth Third Bank branch, which opened in February.

Construction on the retail structure began last summer.