Villages focus on business relations on Milwaukee Avenue

Heather Leszczewicz/ Triblocal.com staff reporter

The area surrounding Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills and Libertyville has moved from stately homes and farmland to primarily commercial properties.

In the future, the villages hope to keep attracting new businesses and relationships with businesses strong, especially after a hard economic year.

There have been several spaces opening in town, but there’s always ebb and flow, said Libertyville Economic Development Coordinator Heather Rowe.

“It’s the economics of today,” she said. “Those that haven't been making it are closing. But we’ve seen a lot of strong tenants come in.”

Some of those businesses include Lovin’ Oven Cakery, Main Street Smokehouse, Egg Harbor and Whatsit & Doohickey Co., Rowe said.

Rowe said the village is proud that none of its auto dealers have closed.

“We've been fortunate all our car dealers are still open,” she said. “Some communities have lost theirs. The strength of our district has really helped.”

The village also worked with 13 dealerships as part of the Mile of Cars Association, a partnership that Rowe said will be a long-time effort.

Vernon Hills has also seen openings in its storefronts for the last couple years, including the closing of Wickes Furniture, Linens and Things and the recent Blockbuster closing.

John Kalmar, Vernon Hills assistant village manager and director of community development, said the village is discussing what will be done to fill the spaces.

The villages have been working to bring in new businesses.

A new retail building is going up on the northwest corner of Route 176 and Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville. Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Chipotle were part of the early tenant announcements.

Rowe said CD One Price Cleaners, Dunkin Donuts and U.S. Loans have all applied for permits. T-Mobile has also put up a coming soon sign.

“They’re moving ahead,” Rowe said. “The property owner is finishing shell and then the tenants will start building for a spring opening, early spring.”

Kalmar said Vernon Hills will also see Dick’s Sporting Goods moving in to town later this year. According to the Vernon Hills Village Blog, the sports store will move into the old Wickes Furniture storefront at 700 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Residents do have a few hopes when it comes to what they would like to see coming to town.

“Personally, would like to see it attract a little bit more boutique type shops,” said Vernon Hills resident Tim McDonald. “Enough of the big box stores and more of an area just walk around like downtown Libertyville.”

Villages are seeing properties along Milwaukee Avenue that can improve, or evolve.

Rowe said there are places in both the northern and southern ends of Libertyville that may see redevelopment in the future, although no one has applied for any permits as of yet.

By Heather Leszczewicz, Triblocal.com reporter Triblocal.com reporter Bridget Doyle contributed to this article.



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