When will Amazon Fresh store open in Buffalo Grove? Nobody knows

Buffalo Grove officials said it is unclear when the much-anticipated Amazon Fresh store at The Clove development will open.

The identity of the store was officially revealed in May, when Village President Eric Smith said permits had been pulled and construction was underway.

At the time, he said the store could be open by the end of the year.

Now, the question is which year.

At the moment, the shell of the 43,000-square-foot building stands, awaiting the arrival of a tenant.

Smith said this week the village does not know when the store is opening. However, he said Amazon is paying rent on the property near Lake-Cook and McHenry roads.

Much hinges on the store’s opening for the developer of the former Town Center, Kensington Development Partners.

“The developer has a big incentive to have a grocer in there,” Smith said. “It's got to be a grocer, otherwise they're not getting (Tax Increment Financing) funds.”

The developer could receive up to $22.75 million in incentives for the $150 million project.

Smith said Amazon is not signaling its intentions to the village or the developer.

“Right now, they're paying rent. That's it,” he said. “That's all the developer knows, and that's all we know.”

Community Development Director Nicole Woods raised the possibility of another grocer moving in if things don’t work out with Amazon.

“Kensington’s whole focus is trying to figure this out with Amazon or other grocers,” Woods said.

Meanwhile, other parts of The Clove are taking shape. Dutch Bros Coffee will be opening in the former Burger King location.

The first franchise location opened in Oregon and expanded across the northwest region.

“This will be one of the first in the Chicagoland region,” Woods said.

Smith expects Dutch Bros to attract a big walk-up crowd from the residential part of The Clove, The 250 Residences, as well as vehicle traffic with the proposed double drive-through.

Smith said First Watch, which was supposed to be coming to a spot north of the park in the development, will not be locating at The Clove. Woods said there will be another eatery in that space.

But Naani’s Cafe, an Indian restaurant, will be opening on the north side.