Conference helps Hoffman Estates fill holes

Hoffman Estates officials found fewer dance partners last month when they made their latest trip to an annual retail developers conference in Las Vegas.

"But the meetings were more intense," Mayor William McLeod said.

That means they'll have a quick return from last month's convention with an announcement of a new sports bar and grill for the west side. Economic development director Gary Skoog said there will be news on up to three new restaurants in the next month.

That list includes the Tilted Kilt, which is still searching for land near Prairie Stone Business Park. The bar and restaurant, which features female servers in plaid skirts and halter tops, is eyeing space behind the Buffalo Wild Wings off Higgins Road.

Attendance was down as much as 50 percent at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Global Retail Real Estates Convention, officials said. The convention brings together municipal officials with national chains interested in opening restaurants or stores.

Under the circumstances, Skoog said the village did pretty well, and despite the decreased convention attendance, village officials had more meetings with prospective businesses than last year.

Still, Hoffman Estates has its share of stalled or unfinished projects, like the $34 million Prairie Creek Amphitheater, which remains in limbo because of credit problems. The neighboring $85 million SplasH2O indoor water park and 240-room hotel also faces problems finding creditors, Skoog said. The project has seen several different designs and could be reborn.

"It's like everything. ... Trying to get more money is more difficult and creditors are asking for more equity from the developer," he said.

This forces even the most seasoned developer to be creative, Skoog said, pointing to the new Arboretum mall in neighboring South Barrington. Officials there quickly replaced a shuttered Circuit City with a gymnastics academy to avoid an extended vacancy. An unexpected benefit has been increased business at the shopping center's fast-food eateries, Skoog said.

"It's always better to go lights-on than lights-off," he said.

Hoffman Estates has some retail vacancies, including many at Barrington Square Mall, that proponents say could benefit from a tax-increment financing district, which allows some taxes to go back into the property for enhancements rather than to government entities. Though village officials would like a grocery store there, many grocers worry about saturation, Skoog said. A nearby Dominick's off Roselle Road was recently renovated with the help of TIF funds.

High Cook County taxes are another deterrent. Skoog said the village had successfully lured a restaurant to fill the now-shuttered Lone Star Steakhouse space on Higgins Road. Then the restaurateurs looked at what they'd owe in taxes and balked.

Besides Skoog, Hoffman Estates sent Village Manager James Norris, McLeod, two trustees and two other staff members to Las Vegas. That's down from last year when the village brought 10 people at a cost of $17,000. No price tag from this year's trip was yet available.

Business: Hoffman Estates has two huge stalled projects