Michigan-based Belle Tire hopes to expand into Illinois with Hoffman Estates location

Belle Tire, a 93-year-old Michigan-based store and automobile service chain, is seeking a location in Hoffman Estates' Prairie Stone Business Park west of Sutton Road as part of the company's expansion into Illinois.

Hoffman Estates village board members expressed general support for the proposal, despite the fact automotive uses weren't originally contemplated for that area, during a recent courtesy review of the project.

The business would be built on a 1.5-acre site just west of the Culver's restaurant and BP gas station on Hoffman Boulevard.

"I don't have a problem with this at all," Mayor Bill McLeod said. "I think the original vision for that parcel there ..., well, it hasn't happened. So this seems like a good use to me."

Village Trustee Michael Gaeta agreed.

"I think it's an excellent idea, because we don't have anything like this on the west side at all." he said. "And it's a good-looking building also, as long as we don't have the bays facing us."

Architect Christopher Enright had presented a rendering of a Belle Tire building from another location that's largely standard for the company. But he added that the concept plan hadn't yet settled on the orientation of the building and which direction doors to the 10 service bays would face.

The building also would include a retail showroom staffed by five sales representatives. The service bays would handle minor automotive maintenance such as brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks, struts and oil changes.

Enright said the company strives to be a good neighbor in a number of ways, including cutting down on noise by the use of electric rather than pneumatic tools.

"All activity takes place inside the building," he added. "Nothing is stored outside, nothing is displayed outside."

Trustee Gary Stanton said his only requested change would be for the business to locate on the vacant site east of the Culver's and gas station rather than the one it's seeking on the west.

Though the building could be constructed in five months, Enright said the company is still in the process of pursuing a more formal contract with the landowner.

Belle Tire already has 130 locations in the Midwest. In Illinois it's ready to expand into Naperville, Villa Park and Aurora and also recently was approved in Orland Park. The company is looking at Mokena as well and has 10 other sites under contract, Enright said.