Lake Zurich welcoming new stores, eateries

As part of an ongoing project, the Daily Herald asked local business and village leaders about what kind of economic development projects were on the way in their communities. Here are the answers from Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dale Perrin.

Q. What new businesses are coming to town or have just opened?

A. There are several new businesses scheduled to open in the next month or so. In the Deerpath Court Shopping Center (where Wal-Mart is) will be an indoor play center for children called Monkey Joe's. Also in that center will be a store called Buy It Monogram, which will obviously do monogramming on promotional products. In the Deerpath Commons Retail Center (Binny's & Aldi's) will be a place called Tree House Café, which is a sandwich shop with a tree house play land for children.

In downtown Lake Zurich, two places will open soon: My Flavor It Place, which will sell ice cream, slushies and similar items, and Delicious Redds, which will have hot dogs, hamburgers and that type of food.

There's also a children's dental office opening in front of the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites. There is a new photography gallery that just opened in the Deer Park Town Center called Ablan Gallery. Also, Pathmann Family Paints just opened (reopened actually under a slightly different name) in the Village Square Shopping Center in the previous Lane Bryant location.

Q. What types of retail business are you specifically trying to attract right now?

A. We are not trying to attract any specific type of retail. We always welcome any type of retail or service business.

Q. What is the best kind of support your village or city can give small business in your community?

A. I can't really speak for the village but from a chamber's point of view, we would like to encourage the village to consider offering incentives such as temporarily reducing permit fees, or offering developers tax rebates.

Q. What can a chamber do to assist its membership, particularly in this challenging economy?

A. Chambers can offer many different services, including "Shop Local" promotional campaigns to encourage consumers to patronize local businesses first. Chambers can also offer programs that help struggling businesses learn new methods of doing business, ways to reduce costs, ways to be innovative and creative to help them succeed in these challenging economic times.