The Biz Week That Was: Teas galore, mall’s last hurrah and new grocers among highlights
Elgin’s Steep N’ Clay sells everything for the perfect cup, down to the pot
The shelves at Steep N’ Clay in downtown Elgin present an astounding array of teas with labels on the jars that excite curiosity about their contents. A glance within the jars reveals contents rich in ingredients. Black Beauty mixes rose petals and peppermint. Plum and Spice mingles hibiscus flowers, rose hips, cinnamon and cranberries. Amazing Grey combines Earl Grey and safflower petals. This only scratches the surface of the inventory at the tea house and pottery shop at 8 Douglas Ave.
Spring Hill Mall to close at the end of March
Spring Hill Mall will close by the end of March, a mall official said Thursday. Tenants have been notified about the pending closure of the largely vacant mall, which straddles Carpentersville and West Dundee. In a letter sent Wednesday, mall officials were notified of owner Kohan Retail Investment Group’s plans to shutter the shopping center at the end of March. Tenants have been told they must close their stores by March 22, mall manager Denise Richardson said.
Des Plaines City Council narrowly approves changes to controversial apartments plan
Proposed changes to a controversial apartment building plan in downtown Des Plaines were narrowly approved by the city council Tuesday night. Barrington-based Mylo Residential Graceland Property originally conceived the building as a seven-story structure, at the northwest corner of Graceland and Webford avenues, but now intends to construct a six-story building. Additionally, instead of 131 apartments, the company wants to create 129. The council approved the original construction plans in April 2023.
Data center campus to replace four office buildings at Northwest Point in Elk Grove
Two new data centers and an electrical substation will take the place of four office buildings in Elk Grove Village’s Northwest Point, an area the village has primed for redevelopment with new zoning and design guidelines and rebranded as an “innovation and technology center” district. Aligned Data Centers is planning to build two data centers of more than 1 million square feet and a substation to the east, following demolition of the office buildings it purchased at 50, 100, 101 and 150 Northwest Point Blvd.
New grocery stores coming soon to McHenry County towns
Several McHenry County towns are getting new grocery stores this year. Carniceria La Rosita in Crystal Lake will open a much larger store in town, while new grocers KD Market in Crystal Lake and Fresh Market in Algonquin also plan on opening this year.