Belle Tire store coming to Elgin

Belle Tire will open a new 9,800-square-foot store in Elgin after unanimous approval Wednesday night by the city council.

It will be built on a portion of the parking lot just north of the Meijer at 803 S. Randall Road. It's the latest addition to the Meijer property that includes the recently built Starbucks, Popeyes, and a multi-tenant retail building.

"I know that Meijer has struggled with those outlets for a while," Councilwoman Tish Powell said. "But it seems like all of a sudden they're all going, which is a good thing."

The 90-year-old Michigan-based company installs tires and other auto parts on passenger vehicles and offers minor automotive repairs, such as brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, and oil changes. The company says no major engine, transmission repair, or body work would be conducted at the facility.

The new brick building will be in-line and north of the Meijer and will only have access from the Meijer parking lot. It will feature 10 overhead doors facing south toward Meijer and no signs facing College Green Drive. New landscaping will be installed around the perimeter of the site to minimize visibility to the surrounding neighborhood, said Marc Mylott, director of community development.

"I think it will be a good spot and it looks like the plans for the property are sensitive to the neighborhood behind," Powell said.

Sierra Ridge Townhomes is just east and north of the property.

Belle Tire has more than 130 stores in the Midwest and plans to build 50 more in the next three years. Its suburban locations are in Naperville and Villa Park. Construction is underway on a store in St. Charles and an Aurora store is slated to open in February.