Bids to start at $1.2 million for Lake in the Hills shopping center

A Lake in the Hills shopping center that housed a now shuttered Dominick's store is being auctioned off next month for a starting bid of $1.2 million.

The Centre at Lake in the Hills at Randall and Algonquin roads, with 99,451 square feet of retail space housing three buildings - the vacant Dominick's, adjacent in-line shops and an outlot strip building - is up for sale. The center was built in 1997 on 8.5 acres.

Remaining in-line shop tenants are GNC, H&R Block and Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center. That building has four vacant suites totaling 6,000 square feet facing Algonquin Road to the south. A second building to the north facing Randall Road comprises 16,720 square feet of retail space. Tenants include Einstein Brothers Bagels, Yumz Gourmet Yogurt and Jersey Mike's Subs. It has two vacant suites totaling 4,520 square feet.

Several separately owned outlets, including Steak 'n Shake, Taco Bell, White Castle and Woods Creek Tavern, are not a part of the property for sale.

The auction begins Feb. 26 and ends Feb. 28, with a $10,000 participation deposit, according to auction broker Transwestern. For details, visit the auction website, Ten-X Commercial.

Interested buyers can view the property from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, Village Economic Development Coordinator George Hahne said.

Since Dominick's closed in December 2013, the site has been eyed by many developers interested in dividing the building among several businesses. Three interested retailers have backed out of deals to fill the former supermarket.

Batavia-based discount grocer Aldi has been considering building a 21,255-square-foot prototype store within a portion of the 72,385-square-foot Dominick's building, according to Hahne.

Hahne could not say whether those plans are still in the works.

"In no way are we in the loop on that," he said. "Aldi has not talked to us. We will have to wait and see."

An Aldi spokeswoman would not confirm whether the company plans to open a store in Lake in the Hills.

Aldi has more than 1,600 stores in 35 states. Its new prototype concept would have twice as much space as a typical Aldi, with a meat counter, liquor area, softer lighting, a larger fresh produce section, wider aisles, and electronic wall displays. Remodeled Aldi stores opened in Lisle, St. Charles, and North Aurora last fall.