New Meijer stores look like a sign of the times

HOMER GLEN – New Meijer stores that opened Tuesday in Homer Glen and Mokena represent more than just an new shopping option for customers.

They also represent more jobs and more expansion of retail in a county that is starting to see more stores and restaurants opening. Several communities have experienced growth in retail and expect more businesses to come as the economy slowly recovers from the recession of 2008 and 2009.

Homer Glen village officials expect the Meijer store to be a significant source of sales tax and jobs. They also expect the store will attract more retail to the village. Meijer, in turn, sees tremendous opportunity with their store opening in Homer Glen, which is another step in the company's slow expansion in the Chicago region.

“I believe things are getting better in the economy but it’s not entirely hinged on that. It’s based more on our capacity to grow,” said Hank Meijer, the company’s co-chairman.

New stores and restaurants have either opened this year or plan to open in the near future in Joliet, Lockport, New Lenox, Mokena and Shorewood. Some, such as Lockport, are taking a more proactive approach to attracting retail. City officials there hired the Retail Coach this year to target specific businesses that would be a good match for the area.

Some of the new stores opening in Joliet this year include H&M and Sports Authority, with Fresh Thyme Markets opening next year. In Shorewood, Mariano's grocery store opened July 15. Pep Boys and L.A. Fitness plan to open in New Lenox and a new Culver's opened in Lockport in late June.

The opening of a Meijer superstore in Mokena is already attracting more business, with Binny's Beverage Depot proposing to set up shop in the village, said Alan Zordan, Mokena community and economic development director.

He said the village is definitely seeing a recovering retail sector that is causing other sectors in the area’s economy to come alive.

“This brings jobs to the community and helps the area to thrive,” he said.

Pam Hirth, the economic and community development director for Lockport, said the economy appears to be rebounding. She sees it in the potential for new retail development.

"A lot of regional and national chains have started their expansion programs and others are doing it cautiously," Hirth said.

Retail businesses across Illinois are not doing much better than before, but they are not doing poorly either, said Peter Gill, spokesman for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. The recovery in the economy has been slow overall and this year the brutal winter prevented a lot of shopping, he said.

“Overall, it’s been slower than expected,” Gill said about the economy. “Doesn’t mean it’s bad, but the growth has been kind of a snail’s pace.”

The success of a retail business can be affected by geography, gas prices, food prices, employment and housing, he said. In a village such as New Lenox, the growth of residential housing in the past several years has attracted retail to the area.

“When you get more residents demanding more goods and services, the businesses follow that demand,” said Robin Ellis, the village’s community development director.

Despite the slow pace of the economy, Gill said the future is bright for retail and customers will drive its success.

“Customers really want to shop,” he said. “We always talk about pent-up demand in our industry. If it’s been a tough winter and customers haven’t shopped. They want to get out and do it.”

Joliet Mayor Thomas Giarrante said Joliet has garnered the most interest in retail since the recession. City officials are daily on the phone talking to businesses and restaurants, encouraging them to invest in the community, he said. The recovering economy has played a major role in the city’s retail development.

“I think the economy is getting better,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not rising as fast as it went down in 2008 but I think it’s slowly improving.”