What will replace Hoffman Estates Menards?

Hoffman Estates Trustee Jackie Green said many residents ask her about what’s going on with the strip mall off Higgins Road where Menards used to stand.

The German company that owns Barrington Square Mall has demolished the former Menards’ building. Garibaldi’s closed their doors last year.

Monday night’s village board meeting revealed a couple bits of news about the mall on the 2300 block of West Higgins Road. Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman William Weaver said the Burger King at the site will be razed and the fast-food chain may or may not rebuild with a new restaurant.

The mall’s owner also wants to host special events, including car shows or carnivals, in the parking lots. The village board on Monday approved a sign ordinance allowing the mall’s officials to post banner-type signs at the shopping center.

Luring businesses to the mall hasn’t gone as quickly for officials. The Menards closed in 2008 and instead of staying in Hoffman Estates, the hardware chain built a larger store in Hanover Park. Hoffman Estates officials blamed the inability to have a traffic signal built for Menards decision to leave.

The signs the village board approved will help attract businesses to the Menards site, Village Manager James Norris said. Three temporary future development signs would be installed near the old Menards building.

Weaver said the village would like to give the mall’s owners every opportunity to improve the center. Weaver also said the mall may have found a tenant for former Garibaldi’s site.

Trustee Raymond Kincaid cast the only vote against the signs measure. He said he didn’t want to appear anti-business, but he worried the mall’s owners would put up more than the four signs village officials expected.