2023 Best of the Best Winner: Deer Park Town Center
Every year, as part of the Daily Herald Media Group's Readers' Choice program, we ask readers to vote for their favorites in more than 200 categories, including the areas of dining, entertainment, business, shopping, places and people. This year, readers responded with more than 63,000 votes, which we narrowed down to the top vote-getters in each category, and featured in our "Top Picks" special section.
Readers voted again for their favorites - 100,000 votes! - to narrow it down to the 2023 Readers' Choice Best of the Best Winners! We are proud to showcase some of these winners with more information about who they are and what they offer.
2023 Best of the Best Winner: Deer Park Town Center
Categories:
• 2023 Best Neighborhood Shopping Center
Describe your business and/or services
Deer Park Town Center is a pedestrian-friendly shopping destination offering a collection of more than 60 stores and restaurants including Anthropologie, Apple, Biaggi's, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Stoney River and more. Conveniently located at Rand Road and Long Grove Road in Deer Park, IL, the center is easily accessible and provides convenient parking, in an open-air setting. Deer Park Town Center offers seasonal events and annual celebrations for the whole family to enjoy.
What do customers say they like about the way you do business?
Customers enjoy the mix of retailers, easy and plentiful parking and they enjoy the free community events. The shopping center is beautifully landscaped and during the holidays customers enjoy the holiday decorations and lights.
What have you learned over the years that helps make your business a Readers' Choice Best of the Best pick?
The shopping center offers an impressive collection of more than 60 stores and restaurants. Some of the most popular options include Anthropologie, Apple, Biaggi's, California Pizza Kitchen, Century Theatres, Crate&Barrel, lululemon, Noodles & Co., Pottery Barn, Sephora, Stoney River and Sundance. We have very loyal shoppers who love to visit our stores and stroll around the beautifully landscaped center.
What makes your business or service unique?
Deer Park Town Center offers our shoppers gift with purchase incentives several times a year. Shoppers who spend the designated amount for that gift with purchase promotion receive free tickets to musicals, theaters, museums or other local venues. The shopping center also hosts several unique events like the Santa's Arrival and Fireworks show in November and the Deer Park Art Show featuring fine works of art in September.
Why do you think you were voted a Readers' Choice Best of the Best?
Deer Park Town has earned this award because the lifestyle center has provided the community with a wonderful place to shop, dine and see a movie since it opened 23 years ago. The center also offers a collection of desirable national brands, locally-owned businesses, and seasonal events for the whole family to enjoy. As an open-air town center, walkability, accessibility and easy parking has always been a critical focus for Deer Park Town Center, which allows our guests a convenient and comfortable experience on-site.
What's the hottest trend in your industry?
We have seen several retailers relocate, expand and renovate their stores to enhance their customer experience and carry more product selections. Successful stores at Deer Park Town Center like Evereve, Bath & Body Works and Lenscrafters have all recently relocated to bigger spaces, expanding and updating their stores to the newest store designs. Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel are currently remodeling their stores to allow for expansion and work is set to be completed by the holiday season, both stores are open during construction.
Does your company donate time or money to any philanthropic causes? If so, what causes?
Deer Park Town Center has been a local drop-off site for the Toys for Tots Great Lakes in Lake County IL for several years and has partnered with the Lake County Sheriff's Office to host the Stuff a Squad annual toy drives. Shoppers can easily donate toys at the Center Office during the holiday season where we collect hundreds of toys each year to benefit children in need.
What community involvement does your business participate in?
Deer Park Town Center has been a proud supporter of the SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program. They are a Barrington area organization which uses miniature therapy horses, therapy dogs, and a therapy cat who visit and share their unconditional love with those in need in our community. Deer Park Town Center partners with SOUL Harbour Ranch to host the monthly "Walk with Me" events on the 2nd Sunday of each month, May-October. Attendees enjoy a 20-30 minute walk around the shopping center, followed by a 30 minute visit with the animals. Events are free and weather permitting, those interested can register before each event, more details listed on our website.
What do you do to make your business a good place to work for your employees?
Employees at Deer Park Town Center stores and restaurants enjoy working with and helping our friendly shoppers who love to shop in-store. Employees enjoy the safe environment and well- maintained property, they love taking part in our community events and supporting each other's businesses.
What is one interesting fact about your company that most people may not know?
Many of the stores at Deer Park Town Center are dog-friendly! Bring your leashed canine companion on your next shopping trip. Please look for dog-friendly decals on store windows and doors. Dog waste stations are located along walking paths near Fidelity Investments, Pottery Barn and near the natural wetlands. A list of dog friendly stores along with rules for dog owners can be found on our website.
One or two sentences to describe your business and/or services?
Deer Park Town Center is a pedestrian-friendly shopping destination offering a collection of more than 60 stores and restaurants including Anthropologie, Apple, Biaggi's, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Stoney River and more. Conveniently located at Rand Road and Long Grove Road in Deer Park, IL, thee center is easily accessible and provides convenient parking, in an open-air setting. Deer Park Town Center offers seasonal events and annual celebrations for the whole family to enjoy.
What do customers say they like about the way you do business?
Customers enjoy the mix or retailers, easy & plentiful parking and they enjoy the free community events. The shopping center is beautifully landscaped and during the holidays customers enjoy the holiday decorations and lights.
What have you learned over the years that helps make your business a "Readers' Choice- Best of the Best" pick?
The shopping center offers an impressive collection of more than 60 stores and restaurants. Some of the most popular options include Anthropologie, Apple, Biaggi's, California Pizza Kitchen, Century Theatres, Crate&Barrel, lululemon, Noodles & Co., Pottery Barn, Sephora, Stoney River and Sundance. We have very loyal shoppers who love to visit our stores and stroll around the beautifully landscaped center.
What makes your business or service unique?
Deer Park Town Center offers our shoppers gift with purchase incentives several times a year. Shoppers who spend the designated amount for that gift with purchase promotion receive free tickets to musicals, theaters, museums or other local venues. The shopping center also hosts several unique events like the Santa's Arrival and Fireworks show in November and the Deer Park Art Show featuring fine works of art in September.
Why do you think you were voted a Readers' Choice Best of the Best?
Deer Park Town has earned this award because the lifestyle center has provided the community with a wonderful place to shop, dine and see a movie since it opened 23 years ago. The center also offers a collection of desirable national brands, locally-owned businesses, and seasonal events for the whole family to enjoy. As an open-air town center, walkability, accessibility and easy parking has always been a critical focus for Deer Park Town Center, which allows our guests a convenient and comfortable experience on-site.
What's the hottest trend in your industry?
We have seen several retailers relocate, expand and renovate their stores to enhance their customer experience and carry more product selections. Successful stores at Deer Park Town Center like Evereve, Bath & Body Works and Lenscrafters have all recently relocated to bigger spaces, expanding and updating their stores to the newest store designs. Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel are currently remodeling their stores to allow for expansion and work is set to be completed by the holiday season, both stores are open during construction.
Does your company donate time or money to any philanthropic causes? If so, what causes?
Deer Park Town Center has been a local drop-off site for the Toys for Tots Great Lakes in Lake County IL for several years and has partnered with the Lake County Sheriff's Office to host the Stuff a Squad annual toy drives. Shoppers can easily donate toys at the Center Office during the holiday season where we collect hundreds of toys each year to benefit children in need.
What community involvement does your business participate in?
Deer Park Town Center has been a proud supporter of the SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program. They are a Barrington area organization which uses miniature therapy horses, therapy dogs, and a therapy cat who visit and share their unconditional love with those in need in our community. Deer Park Town Center partners with SOUL Harbour Ranch to host the monthly "Walk with Me" events on the 2nd Sunday of each month, May-October. Attendees enjoy a 20-30 minute walk around the shopping center, followed by a 30 minute visit with the animals. Events are free and weather permitting, those interested can register before each event, more details listed on our website.
What do you do to make your business a good place to work for your employees?
Employees at Deer Park Town Center stores and restaurants enjoy working with and helping our friendly shoppers who love to shop in-store. Employees enjoy the safe environment and well- maintained property, they love taking part in our community events and supporting each other's businesses.
What is one interesting fact about your company that most people may not know?
Many of the stores at Deer Park Town Center are dog-friendly! Bring your leashed canine companion on your next shopping trip. Please look for dog-friendly decals on store windows and doors. Dog waste stations are located along walking paths near Fidelity Investments, Pottery Barn and near the natural wetlands. A list of dog friendly stores along with rules for dog owners can be found on our website.