Reimagining Chase Plaza: Developer outlines plans for Buffalo Grove shopping center

Plans for Buffalo Grove’s Chase Plaza revealed this week call for a complete overhaul of the moribund shopping center that was left with a gaping hole after the exit of a Dominick’s grocery store more than a decade ago.

Louis Schriber III of Buffalo Grove-based Shorewood Development Group unveiled his plan before the village’s planning and zoning commission Wednesday. The commission gave a positive recommendation to the proposal, which now moves to the village board, likely in January, for approval.

Schriber outlined a vision that splits the former Dominick’s site at 1160 W. Lake-Cook Road into a two-tenant space featuring a 34,500-square-foot fitness center and 27,000 square feet of general retail use.

The planned Club Studio is a luxury brand launched by Fitness International, the parent company of LA Fitness. It will feature a full range of exercise equipment and group fitness studios.

Schriber also is seeking village approval to allow drive-through restaurants on the site. Although no specific tenant has been selected, Shorewood has identified a parcel on the east side of the property — formerly planned as a gas station — as a potential site for a drive-through establishment.

Filling the Dominick’s space is the first phase of the redevelopment, which will require some heavy lifting to modernize the center. Other planned changes include a new facade, new signs, 16 EV charging stations on the west side of the redesigned parking lot and enhanced lighting.

Shorewood was the master developer of Woodman’s Food Market in Buffalo Grove, and also developed the Shops of Buffalo Grove across from Woodman’s on Deerfield Parkway.

The company is leading the redevelopment of the former Rohrman auto dealership on Dundee Road, which is anchored by the Tesla dealership.

“We were also looking for Tesla here (at Chase Plaza), and it didn’t work out,” Schriber said. “But that gave us a chance to come back and to revitalize another important corridor within Buffalo Grove.”

Schriber said his company has contracts with all four current property owners on the Chase Plaza site, including with Albertson’s for the Dominick’s space. The existing businesses on the west side of the center will remain, including Domino’s Pizza, he added.

Shorewood plans to introduce phase two of the project next year, Schriber said, adding that the vacant Buffalo restaurant building is not part of phase one.

Members of the plan commission praised the proposal Wednesday.

“This is near and dear to me, and I'm really excited to see something happen in this space,” said Commissioner Donald Schwartz, who worked as a stock boy at the Dominick's as a high school student.