Crystal Lake Five Below relocating to old Dressbarn building

Five Below is on the move.

The Crystal Lake retailer that specializes in $5 and under teen and tween merchandise offerings is planning to move into the former Dressbarn building in the shopping center behind its existing location at 5460 Northwest Highway.

Dressbarn announced it would close all of its 650 locations in May, including the Crystal Lake store. Five Below plans to use the entire 11,976-square-foot space, according to city documents.

Crystal Lake’s Planning and Zoning Commission earlier in June recommended approval for Five Below’s requests to allow exterior changes to the building and signage. The City Council is expected to consider the matter Monday.

“They are looking to move as quickly as they can,” City Planner Elizabeth Maxwell said.

The company is renovating both the interior and exterior of the property, she said. The work will include a new storefront, entry, sidewalk, trash enclosure with a concrete pad, new awnings and signs, according to city documents.

The current Five Below building, at 5500 Northwest Highway, could become a multitenant building, Maxwell said.

“The landlord is looking to possibly put up to three new tenants in the Five Below space,” she said. “I don’t know who they are yet. No one has come forward to the city yet to either modify the building or make a tenant request.”

Five Below has more than 800 stores in 36 states with 1,750 more stores in the works, according to its website.

Crystal Lake also is considering a request from a developer who wants to subdivide the former Pauly Toyota sales property into four different lots. The vacant lot is about 3.2 acres, according to city documents.

The site, at 5417 to 5501 Northwest Highway, has long been vacant, and the petitioner wants to divide the three lots into four lots for future development, according to city documents.