The Biz Week That Was: A mall re-imagined, business incubator success and new homes among highlights
Bloomingdale takes over Stratford Square Mall to pave the way for ‘legacy development’
After steadily buying a collection of vacant department store buildings at Stratford Square, the village of Bloomingdale has taken over the core of the mall itself. The village already owns the old Carson's, Burlington and Sears stores along with a strip of land along Springfield Drive. Bloomingdale leaders have now finalized an $8.75 million deal to purchase the remainder of the mall — a step toward re-imagining the sprawling site.
Dave & Buster’s to open at Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg Feb. 26
Dave & Buster’s will open its newest suburban location at The Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road in Schaumburg, Feb. 26. The new location will be the fifth Dave & Buster’s in Illinois. The entertainment and restaurant venue in the former site of Gameworks brings 38,883 square feet of gaming, food, and entertainment space in an interactive and immersive environment.
How McHenry’s Riverwalk Shoppes breed success as retail incubator
Envisioned as a retail incubator for the city, McHenry’s Riverwalk Shoppes, which broke ground less than a year ago, create tiny shops in the downtown area where small businesses can test the waters for their products in a retail environment. In early March, three of the original 10 tiny shop occupants — Lumber & Twine, Mad Soyentist Candles, and Hair Flextensions — are set to open Shop 3430 elsewhere downtown, at 3430 Elm St.
‘A game changer’: Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates ready to add homes
While the commercial development of Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates is continuing on pace in 2024, the year’s biggest milestone is expected to be the start of construction on 164 townhouses on the east side of the former AT&T headquarters. Final approval also will be sought for nearly 300 apartments in the same 20-acre area of the sprawling property, Inspired by Somerset Development CEO Ralph Zucker said.
Ugly Noodle owner says being gluten-free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy good pasta
When Lauren McLaughlin found out she was allergic to gluten and roughly 30 other foods, she understood why gluten-free food got a bad rap. It was especially tough for a pasta-lover with an Italian mother who remembers making pasta by hand with her grandmother. The pull was so strong that the Elgin resident started her own brand of gluten- and allergen-free pasta called Ugly Noodle. After success at farmer’s markets in Elgin, Geneva, Wheaton and Wilmette last summer, McLaughlin in December opened a retail store in Geneva at 2600 Keslinger Road, Suite 15.
Tacos Jerez slated to open in Huntley, but can’t use drive-through for alcohol sales
Tacos Jerez plans to open its doors in Huntley in the next few weeks. The restaurant has two other locations, in Elgin and Rolling Meadows, and received the Huntley village board’s approval in December. The Mexican eatery will inherit the space, including two drive-through lanes, from the former Burger King at 12262 Route 47.