Lake in the Hills seeks upscale dining, auto dealers
Lake in the Hills residents would like to see upscale dining, a full-service hotel, high-end automobile dealerships, and boutique shops in town.
That was the consensus from focus group discussions the village conducted with 61 residents in February. People were asked 15 questions about existing businesses and services available and whether they meet consumer needs. An upscale restaurant topped the wish list.
"What they were looking for is a dining experience where you could go for a special occasion," said George Hahne, Lake in the Hills economic development coordinator.
Residents also want upscale boutique-type retail stores where they can get "more personal service" and high-end products, similar to what might be found in downtown Crystal Lake, he added.
"Everybody likes that discount shopping experience but they would like to balance that with a bit more upscale experience," Hahne said.
The village has a number of commercial corridors - Algonquin and Pyott roads, Randall Road north of Algonquin Road, areas along Rakow Road north of Lake in the Hills Airport, Lakewood and Algonquin roads, and sectors along Routes 31 and 47 - with existing spaces requiring retrofitting, according to a retail market feasibility study.
Residents emphasized a full-service hotel is lacking in town, especially to put up family members during holidays and for business events.
For example, the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner was held at a banquet facility in Crystal Lake.
"We do have two Holiday Inn products. There is just not enough rooms to satisfy the need," Hahne said. "Not only do people see a need for a hotel, but a full-service hotel with a banquet facility attached to it. Any part of the Marriott or Hilton chain would be a welcome addition to the community."
A 2014 hospitality study prompted a developer to propose a hotel along Randall Road. That proposal for an 80- to 85-room, four-story hotel on five acres north of the former Dominick's site has not moved forward.
A village-sanctioned market study completed last year also highlighted the need for auto dealerships and commercial retail along Route 31. It identified three potential sites for development along Route 31 and Rakow Road, near an existing Toyota dealership.
Hahne said Crystal Lake has several domestic car dealers: Ford, Chevy, GMC, Chrysler and Dodge.
"More and more people are driving upscale BMWs, Audis, and have to travel great distances to either purchase the cars or to have them serviced," Hahne said.
Hahne said he plans to target the specialty retailers and developers to bring such businesses to town.
"I've got more ammunition to go after them with this information. There is obviously a strong demand for (their) product in Lake in the Hills," he said, adding residents of neighboring communities, such as Barrington Hills, Cary and Lakewood, with high average household incomes also would utilize these services.