Garden Ridge moving into old Schaumburg Home Depot Expo

Schaumburg's commercial vacancy rate is dropping slightly as a new retailer has stepped forward to occupy a long-vacant 100,000-square-foot building.

Houston-based Garden Ridge plans to open in September at the former Home Depot Expo building at 1325 N. Meacham Road - just south of Costco - which has been vacant for the past four years, Schaumburg Economic Development Coordinator Matt Frank said.

Six months ago, the village's commercial vacancy rate stood above 10 percent. But recent activity, including Garden Ridge's commitment, has lowered that rate to below 9 percent, Frank said.

"We've been fortunate that retailers have been coming," he said.

Though a 26,200-square-foot Crate & Barrel opened in February and a 58,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market opened Wednesday, both buildings were under construction six months ago and did not contribute to the vacancy rate at the time, Frank said.

Nevertheless, their recent openings at full occupancy have contributed to lowering the overall vacancy rate, he added.

Garden Ridge is a company only beginning to expand into the Midwest. It sells a combination of indoor and outdoor furnishings and describes its merchandise as a combination of Pier 1 Imports and Bed, Bath & Beyond, Frank said.

He added that the village is continuing to see signs of companies stepping up their expansion plans and several other new businesses stand ready to open in previously vacant spaces, including the restaurant Seasons 52 at 1770 E. Higgins Road.