New discount store to open in Algonquin

The first Gordmans store along the Randall Road corridor will open this week in Algonquin.

Gordmans will open in the old Wickes furniture store building, which fronts Randall Road in the outdoor Algonquin Commons mall.

The store's doors will officially open to customers at 9 a.m. Thursday. However, the folks at Algonquin Commons and Gordmans are planning a grand opening celebration the weekend of July 29 to 31, with a ribbon cutting, giveaways and discounts.

Since Gordmans is new to the area, many of you may not know what it is.

Gordmans is an off-price department store that sells name brands at discounted prices. It is something akin to a TJ Maxx or Marshalls, but on a bigger scale.

They have designer fashions for all ages, as well as jewelry, shoes, house wares and fragrances.

Gordmans is headquartered in Omaha, Neb., with 70 other locations around the country in 16 different states.

They have eight other locations in Illinois, mostly south of the Chicago area.

However, on the same day the Algonquin location opens, Gordmans also will open a location in Naperville.

And later this year, a Gordmans will open in Vernon Hills. It is expected to open in the fall.

The other spots can be found in Champaign, Fairview Heights, Machesney Park, Moline, Normal, Peoria, Springfield and Rockford.

Gordmans signed a lease late last year to occupy the old 47,500-square-foot Wickes store in Algonquin, along Randall. Wickes was open in the mall from 2005 to 2008. When it closed, another furniture store — Relax Home furnishings, opened in its place, but was only in business for about a year.

Since Gordmans signed a lease for the property last year, they've been remodeling the store, adding square footage and getting the spot ready for its foray into the Randall Road corridor.

The store in Algonquin will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cool off: There is plenty of fun to be had outside this summer.But when you're ready for a small break from the heat, you can head inside for story times at Barnes and Noble along Randall Road in Geneva.The store hosts story time at 10:30 a.m. every Monday and Thursday. In addition to hearing fun stories, kids also will do a craft or color at the free events.This Friday, the store also is hosting a special camp-themed story time at 7 p.m.Kids can come in their pajamas and hear stories about some of their favorite children's literature characters going to camp, including Arthur and Froggy. Pajamas are not required, but having fun at the event is. There also will be coloring fun after the stories.Every Friday night the store hosts the pajama time story times, with a different theme each week.Teen style: A new clothing store is now open in Algonquin Commons, along Randall Road.Rue 21, which sells trendy clothing and accessories for guys and girls, opened in the mall this summer.The store is located between Williams-Sonoma and New York and Company.Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.