Businesses on two high-profile corners in Elmhurst, and one downtown lunch spot, have all closed in recent months, causing customers to wonder, "What is going on behind the papered-up windows and the empty storefronts?" While some patrons will have to look for new favorite places to get a bite to eat, the news is not all bad.
A visit last week to Fontano's, 113 W. First St., revealed that the store was empty except for kitchen equipment. A sign on the front windows indicated the store is for lease, and it gave a phone number for Phillips Martin Real Estate.
Fontano's owner Kevin O'Keeffe said he had to close the shop because of the economy and the fact that more people are bringing their lunches to work and not eating out.
“I had to cut my losses,” he said, adding that closing the business affected him emotionally as well as monetarily. He estimated that he lost about $100,000 on the store.
O'Keeffe said the owners of the Fontano's franchise were looking into buying the store back and keeping it open. But in order to resume business, the DuPage County Health Department said another bathroom needed to be installed to meet codes established in the Americans with Disabilities Act. This, O'Keeffe said, was not possible within current footprint of the store.
O'Keeffe said that he loved owning the business and his customers were “incredible” and “loyal,” with some coming in two or three times each week.
At Good Earth Market, 555 S. York Road, windows on the main building are papered over, but a sign on York Road reads “Greenhouse open weekends.”
Bill Hogan with Good Earth confirmed that the greenhouse is now open weekends, and it will be open daily beginning the first Monday after Easter. In addition, he said the retail area will open around May 25. Currently, Hogan said, workers are expanding the store's cafe and deli area to separate it from the retail area.
Kopper Kitchen is quiet amid the constant flow of traffic at the corner of St. Charles Road and Route 83. The main customer entrance is boarded up, and a “For Lease” sign hangs on a few windows.
Tessa Zemgulys of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry said late last week that the restaurant's owner recently died, and the family is contemplating what to do with the property.
Across the street from Kopper Kitchen, shoppers may wonder if they have traveled back in time.
The Sears Essentials store has once again become a K-Mart. Mayor Pete DiCianni told the City Council Monday night that the new store is projected to generate up to $15 million in sales each year and bring about 100 jobs to the city.
Trader Joe's has said previously that they would not open a store in Elmhurst. As much as you or I think that it would be a success, they do not. Their business plan goes something like the following. Please forgive my numbers, they are not exact, but I think you'll see what I mean. When looking at a location for a new store, Trader Joe's requires that 70% of the population in the surrounding communities within X number of miles (likely 20 miles) have a college education before they will build. With Elmhurst, you have Bensenville, Berkely, Bellwood, Addison, Northlake, & Villa Park going against that demographic. TJ's would rather you drive to Glen Ellyn than have one in our town. It is their assumption that the population of Elmhurst alone cannot support a TJ's.
Is it also possible that in excess of 30 % of Elmhurst residents do not have a college education?
I guess my point in the last sentence would be, given the so-called "wealth" in Elmhurst (whether actual or merely perceived), cannot support a TJ's by itself.
Now, as a result of this we have lost the Ford dealership and will see tax dollars move to Bensenville. So much for community loyalty To the former owner of "Elmhurst Ford" Shouldn't it be called Bensenville Ford? I feel bad for Fontana's since the owner is such a decent guy. Aggressive parking enforcement and limited parking doomed a very high quality store. Three hours cumulative parking and after that get out of dodge, or you will get a ticket. Stop in get a sandwich, go about your day out side of Elmhurst, come back and eat at a restaurant and the computer will show that you have been parked all day and bingo, a ticket is issued. Shoot ourselves in the foot again and again. Drive customers away. Nice move, Elmhurst. Most of the cities processes are far behind the times and lack the creativity and innovation of towns like Wheaton. Few are customer friendly and often are adversarial. Promises of change and innovation seem empty. Maintenance of the status quo and protection of power seem our choice.
Doors were falling off, the lot was a mess, and the mechanics were unhappy. The aesthetic of the building was very poor. Look at it now. Without the distraction of the shiny vehicles, what is left is an eyesore. The owner sold his license to Larry Roesch and now wants to dump the property. Why was the property allowed to deteriorate so badly and the City take no action? I see blight in many locations and unless someone complains, nothing is done. Are we reactive or proactive. One is about leading the other is about selective enforcement and following the rules inconsistently, which negates the integrity of the process.
And the economy is a terrible excuse. Chow across the street seems to be doing alright and their food is just about as expensive. The difference is Chow has great food that caters well to a more upper-class clientele so it can have high prices. Plus Oven Baked Subs opened on North and York and they seem to be having no problem having great subs at low prices. I was happy to see Fontano's close its doors. Its a joke to see average food with ridiculous prices. If the economy is bad then lower your prices.
Revenues from parking tickets are in direct conflict with what is good for our business establishments. Thew Mayor seems to not want to address this issue,nor does the city council Why? because it would rock the status quo and seem to be in opposition to the bureaucracy that exists. It seems that Mayors do not lead but rather go long to get along. If I were the Mayor I would tell the Police that our citizens our taxpayers that support your jobs and please treat our citizens with respect. No, I do not support criminal activities. I detest the criminal element. Try to break into my garage and see how I respond. I recently evicted people from a property who willfully and purposely destroyed the property yet the Elmhurst Police would not do anything to assist me. Thus, i must go to the DuP)age County States Attorney for adddress of this problem. Why? Because I dared criticize the Police on overly aggressive actions taken against our citizens? I think so.
This same individual was picked up by the Elmhurst Police on a warrant issued by the Joliet Police after he trashed a hotel.Joliet Police acted decisively and aggressively.What is different? Small claims is not the inappropriate venue for actions that include criminal damage to property. Imagine, I rent your home and then purposely destroy the property. What would you expect the Police to do? Nothing? If I walk down the street and spray paint a fence I can be charged. What is different about the willful and malicious destruction of property ? Is this the best I can expect from the Police although I am a taxpayer on multiple properties.? Let the same thing happen to one of their homes or one of our elected officials and you would see a very different response. Illinois law is clearly on my side but the Police abdicate responsibility. I will be going to the States Attorney but I should not have to do this by myself. The Police have a responsibility which they have shirked.
as far as sears essentials goes, or kmart? yuck. I thought this was Elmhurst. anyone remember that movie Rain Man, with tom cruise? k-mart sucks. that should be a micro center computer store like the one in westmont, or a best buy, there should be a bed bath and beyond... luxury or high end retail... what are we encouraging around here with a k-mart. k-mart should have went the way of venture. we used to have an eduardos pizza in that plaza, years ago that would be nice to have something like that...