Goodwill coming to Hoffman Village Shopping Center

A Goodwill retail store and donation center will be the newest addition to a shopping center in Hoffman Estates that has seen great improvements since a Mariano's Fresh Market moved in nearly a year ago.

Earlier this month, the village board agreed to let Goodwill move into a more than 20,000-square-foot space in the Hoffman Village Shopping Center, located near the corner of Barrington and Golf roads. Mayor William McLeod was the only person to vote no to the store.

“I personally don't think this is a very good use for the center,” he said. “I think Mariano's really upgraded the center and I would have liked to see something maybe a little higher-toned.”

Goodwill estimates the store will create 40 to 50 jobs and pay the village approximately $50,000 in sales tax per year.

Pete Gugliotta, the village's director of planning, said while an appliance store or restaurant could have brought in more sales tax, the Goodwill store will bring in more revenue than the miniature golf business that was once located in that space.

“I would say it's probably in the middle, as far as revenue goes,” he said.

Since Mariano's opened in August 2012, a Hallmark store and Los Fernandez Restaurant have opened in the center, according to Gugliotta. Two small eateries with state-licensed video gaming — including Betty's Bistro and Stella's Cafe — are currently under construction in the center.

Gugliotta said the entire center is approximately 158,000 square feet. After Goodwill moves in, several smaller units amounting to roughly 23,000 square feet will still be vacant.

Goodwill hopes to open the store by the end of this year. The hours are still to be determined.

The donation center — which includes a canopy in the parking lot where customers can drop off clothing, furniture, home goods and other items — will open one hour prior to the store's opening each day.