The Biz Week That Was: Mall transformation, suburbs’ best sandwich shop, and economy doing better than expected

Next big step for Hawthorn Mall property redevelopment is waiting for green light to proceed

The next big step in the ongoing transformation of the Hawthorn mall property in Vernon Hills appears ready to proceed. Developers are seeking approvals for the second phase of the $252 million redevelopment, a venture between Focus, Affinius, Atlantic Residential, and mall owner Centennial Real Estate. Focus wants to reconfigure a previously approved mix of apartments and retail space, demolish much less of the remaining mall proper, add more new retail spaces and increase the number of residential units from 255 to 290.

‘Real Mexican food’: New owners, new name, new menu for Campton Hills eatery

Luis Maldonado bought Lupita’s Cucina, a Mexican eatery at 40W222 LaFox Road, Campton Hills, last month, and changed it up, name and all. The new name is Ikal Y Sanse — Ikal is Mayan, Y is Spanish and Sanse is Aztec. “It means unique spirit,” Maldonado said.

Schaumburg-area sandwich shop makes Yelp’s list of nation’s 100 best

Finuccio & Sons, just outside Schaumburg, is among only three Illinois eateries to make Yelp’s list of the nation’s top 100 sandwich shops for 2025. The secret weapon of the only suburban eatery to make the list? The always fresh homemade bread, owner Fino D’Agostaro of Palatine said.

Lennon’s opens three dining concepts under one roof in downtown Naperville

A new downtown Naperville restaurant is bringing three different concepts on three floors under one roof with a unifying philosophy of bringing people together. Lennon’s opened about a month ago at 16 W. Jefferson Ave. in the space previously occupied by The Craftsman, Barrel House and AltaVida.

‘More like a transition’: Elgin council approves local grocery tax

Following the lead of hundreds of other communities in the state, Elgin City Council members gave preliminary approval Wednesday to replace the state’s 1% grocery tax with an equal local tax. They’ll dedicate the estimated $1.2 million in revenue to lead service line replacement.

US economy grows 3.3% in second quarter, government says, in second estimate of April-June growth

The U.S. economy rebounded this spring from a first-quarter downturn due to fallout from President Donald Trump’s trade wars. In an upgrade from its first estimate in July, the Commerce Department said Thursday that U.S. gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — expanded at a 3.3% annual pace from April through June after shrinking 0.5% in the first three months of 2025.

Sycamore Partners finishes deal to take Walgreens private

The acquisition of Deerfield-based Walgreens by a private equity firm is complete, ending the drugstore chain’s run as a publicly traded company. Walgreens said Thursday that former Staples leader Mike Motz will become its new chief executive officer, replacing Tim Wentworth. Walgreens had announced in March that it agreed to be acquired by Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at around $10 billion. Its shareholders approved that deal last month.