Starbucks, Rookies, Jimmy John’s coming to Route 47
Huntley leaders have confirmed Starbucks is coming to town, a move they say means the village has officially arrived.
Starbucks will operate a store within the Regency Square commercial and business park, now under construction at Route 47 and Kreutzer Road, just north of Wal-Mart, said Victor Narusis, the village’s business recruitment coordinator.
It would mark Starbucks’ first foray into Huntley, and leaders hail its arrival as a symbolic hurdle the village has now crossed.
“We certainly have heard from our residents, ‘We’d like to see some of those types of restaurants or those eating facilities,’ ” Village Manager Dave Johnson said. “It certainly shows that some national chains are taking notice of what’s going on in Huntley.”
Starbucks officials aren’t confirming or denying anything about its baristas serving up coffee, baked goods and other gourmet drinks in Huntley.
“We think Huntley is a wonderful community and could potentially be an interesting place for Starbucks. However, we do not have any new stores to announce at this time,” a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement.
It’s been a good year for Huntley.
Earlier this summer, the state gave Centegra Health System permission to build a $233 million hospital that’s expected to add 1,100 jobs to the village.
The village is also adding 208 new homes to its housing stock, and construction recently started on a full interchange at Route 47 and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
With all of this activity, the time seemed right for a major retailer like Starbucks to move in, Narusis said.
“We get asked about Starbucks more than any other, and having Starbucks coming to Huntley will certainly appeal to an awful lot of people,” Narusis said. “I think it’s another one of those milestones that Huntley is a major community that’s being recognized by major retailers and that’s great for us.”
Other confirmed businesses for Regency Square include Rookies All-American Pub & Grills and a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop, Narusis said.
The complex broke ground Thursday and is scheduled to be open by early 2013.