The Biz Week That Was: New streaming and grocery taxes, outlet mall gets new retailers, and taproom expands

Arlington Heights implements new streaming tax, retains grocery tax

Arlington Heights will levy a new streaming tax, and keep an old grocery tax, village board members decided Monday. The new 5% tax on streaming entertainment subscriptions purchased by homeowners will help pay the personnel costs of six new paramedics who will staff a fifth fire department ambulance.

Rosemont’s Fashion Outlets adds Rag & Bone to retailer lineup

Rag & Bone — a clothing, shoes and accessories fashion brand — became the latest store to open at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont on Thursday. The store, which specializes in denim clothing, opened on level two of the two-story, 530,000-square-foot indoor shopping center, near Versace and Aritzia.

Black Lung Brewing coming home to Grayslake with new taproom

A Grayslake resident whose craft beer brewing hobby became a passion and grew to a business with two locations is coming home with a larger, upgraded taproom. Josh Grubbs, president and head brewer of Black Lung Brewing Company is reviving a vacant space at 2 S. Lake St., a move he says will double his brewing capacity and bring a killer kitchen with upscale bar food to the mix.

‘Lesser of two evils’: Naperville approves local grocery tax

Naperville shoppers will continue paying a 1% tax on their groceries. Following the lead of several neighboring communities, Naperville city council members this week voted 5-4 to replace the state’s 1% grocery tax with a local tax.

West Chicago mayor’s renderings spark community interest in downtown development

West Chicago residents are responding to a series of renderings of downtown improvements Mayor Daniel Bovey recently posted on Facebook. That was exactly Bovey’s intent with the 19 pictures of elements, including a public plaza, courts for athletics, a marketplace and more. Several elements incorporate West Chicago’s history with the railway that runs through the downtown, and a vacant, 150-year-old station.

Gurnee to consider 40-unit ‘workforce housing’ proposal

A proposed 40-unit “workforce housing” development, east of Route 21 near the Tri-State Tollway in Gurnee, will proceed to the village board for consideration. The village's planning and zoning board this week unanimously recommended rezoning 2.2 acres from office to multifamily and a variation to increase the maximum allowable density for Liberty Point Residences.

Cary adds non-home-rule sales tax after voters reject home-rule status, extends grocery tax

Cary officials have approved a non-home-rule general sales tax and the continuation of a 1% grocery tax for next year. Both taxes are set to take effect Jan. 1.