New grocers, restaurants on tap in Schaumburg

Woodfield Mall and Streets of Woodfield are far from the only shopping areas in Schaumburg being revitalized in 2015, Mayor Al Larson told the village's business community Tuesday during his annual State of the Village address.

New tenants are expected to instill fresh energy at the Town Square development at Schaumburg and Roselle roads, as well as at the Woodfield Village Green shopping center just north of Woodfield on Golf Road, Larson told members of the Schaumburg Business Association.

The owners of the vacant Dominick's at Town Square have picked a buyer they say will please the village. The tenant's name is expected to be revealed within the next few weeks, Larson said.

A verbal agreement also has been reached for a new breakfast restaurant in the vacant Applebee's building at Town Square, he added. That restaurant's identity will be announced as soon as a lease is signed.

Larson was able to give the names of two more new restaurants coming to town this year.

A Schaumburg location of the Chicago-based, heavy metal-themed hamburger restaurant Kuma's Corner is expected to open this summer in the outlot building at Woodfield Village Green.

Larson asked audience members familiar with Kuma's Corner whether its burgers live up to their reputation. He was greeted with an enthusiastic response.

Though the Moe's Southwest Grill restaurant at 1420 N. Meacham Road in Schaumburg recently closed, it will soon be filled with a new concept called Pie Five Pizza, Larson said.

This year also will see the opening of Schaumburg's long-desired Trader Joe's store at Woodfield Village Green. Construction is wrapping up on the project that began in 2014.

Two other restaurants that recently closed, for which the village is beginning to look for new tenants, are the Smashburger on Golf Road and the Denny's on Higgins Road.

While not yet as definite as the plans for the vacant Dominick's at Town Square, rumors of a new grocer for Schaumburg's other vacant Dominick's, at the southwest corner of Higgins and Meacham roads, are also beginning to circulate, Larson said.

Another major project of the year will be continued work on the full tollway interchange at Roselle Road and the partial interchange at Meacham Road, the mayor said. When completed in 2016, the interchanges will ease access to and from the village and should facilitate economic development for years to come, Larson said.