The Biz Week That Was: New Asian lifestyle center work begins, pumpkin farm turns 10 and old cycle shop closing among the highlights
Transformation of old Rolling Meadows Sam’s Club into Asian shopping center begins
Closed for nearly 15 years, the old Sam’s Club in Rolling Meadows finally will have some activity — though you might not be able to see it. Construction crews will be working inside the 129,000-square-foot big box, tearing out old electrical and mechanical systems to make the cavernous space ready for the new owner’s planned Asian-focused lifestyle center of restaurants, shops and entertainment.
Abercrombie & Fitch joins wave of new business coming to downtown Naperville
Abercrombie & Fitch will be joining the lineup of retailers along downtown Naperville’s Washington Street. The national retailer is expected to open a new store in 2025 at 103 S. Washington St., according to a joint press release issued Tuesday. Abercrombie & Fitch will take over the space that once housed Ulta Beauty, which closed its downtown Naperville location in March.
After 48 years in business, Geneva Cycle Shop demolition proceeds
For 48 years, Elis Giannini sold regular and specialty bikes from his Geneva Cycle Shop at 12 E. State St., Geneva. On Sept. 23, he watched as demolition began on the bike shop and a former resale shop at the southwest corner of routes 38 and 25.
Wayfair outlet opening in Naperville
Wayfair has found a home in Naperville. The Boston-based national home furnishings retailer opened its first Illinois outlet center on Thursday in the Westridge Court shopping center off Route 59. The outlet center’s opening comes after Wayfair opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Wilmette in May.
Sugar Grove Pumpkin Farm marks 10 years in business
Halloween pumpkins no longer are just big and orange, rounded and perfect to be carved into a grinning gap-toothed jack-o’-lantern. There’s Knuckleheads and Warty Goblins — the kind with the weird bumps — and Cinderella’s Carriage, a wide, deep orange heirloom variety. Starting their 10th season, Mikaya and Dustin Huggins grow more than 100 varieties of pumpkins on their Sugar Grove Pumpkin Farm, 4S041 Merrill Road, Sugar Grove.
Residents protest as Mount Prospect, feed producer near settlement
Fed up with odors from a Mount Prospect animal feed company, Prestige Feed Products’ neighbors descended upon the site last week to protest. Meanwhile, the village of Mount Prospect is back in court to discuss terms of a settlement to the litigation it’s been locked in with Prestige since last year. The two sides have made “substantial progress” on an interim agreement.