Over the past week we noticed various developments with retail establishments around the Sloop and thought we would kick-off the week with a recap.
Roosevelt Collection Demolition
When the new owners of Roosevelt Collection bought the property they mention that they thought there was a lot of potential, but that they were going to raze the never-occupied buildings in the middle.
Well it appears that this is happening judging by the picture above.
Hopefully this means retail will be coming soon. We haven't heard anything, but we try to remain optimistic.
Flo & Santos Expanding?
A perceptive reader emailed us with a picture of construction equipment presumably digging to lay a foundation at the back of the current building housing Flo & Santos (1310 S. Wabash). It looks like they're expanding back to presumably allow for more seating. Anyone have any updates?
We were hoping that they would expand to the vacant piece of land just to the North, but it appears that will not be the case.
Trade Joe's is Looking Good
No new news here, but the outside and inside of Trader Joe's is looking good. The signs are up, the inside is painted and the shelves are stocked. A sign on the window says they
're opening on September 9th which is consistent with what we've heard.
're opening on September 9th which is consistent with what we've heard. "For Lease" Signs Come Down at Old Entourage Man Retail Space
Not sure if this means that a new tenant is taking over the space or if a new real estate company is taking over marketing responsibilities. Hopefully it's the former. Anyone know anything?
(Hat tip: ND, PB, MT!)
37 comments:
According to the condo association meeting notes at 1400 Museum Park, the former Entourage space will be occupied by an "American bistro" affiliated with Park 52 in Hyde Park.
Flo & Santos is pouring a covered beer garden patio in the back (to open in January) but they do have plans to expand to the North next year. (This is according to a friend of ours who works for the corporation that owns Zapatista & Flo & Santos)
Anon 746 and 825 - Great news!
It's kinda sad that "development news" in this neighborhood includes the demolition of thousands of square feet of commercial space that sat vacant for years and was never occupied.
Where exactly is the old Entourage space?
Glad to see Roosevelt Collection has the money to TEAR buildings down... while they still haven't completed the park on the north end of the development.
WHERE IS OUR PARK?!
At least let us use the sidewalk and stairs that are already completed to access the movie theatre, etc.
I asked a securoty guard by the movie theatre what they plan on putting in the middle and he said a park. take it for what its worth....looks like the atrium/park will be INSIDE the development
Sometimes it takes demo for future development that we want. Those 'retail' bldgs they demolished ruined the aesthetic anyway. They were only used to take the elevators. There is plenty of retail to fill in the 'U' section. This was actually fantastic news. A park in that spot is great and agree they need to give folks access to the retail from the back.
Entourage was at the NW corner of 14th and S Michigan.
Entourage was the NE corner.
Yes Brendan it is going to be a park. That was on the original design but never happened and when new ownership took over they posted a rendition of the park.
I live at the RC. The demolition is supposed to be done in early September, and the park construction should commence immediaitely after.
At the house meeting in July, the guy responsible for attracting retail told me that we will not see shops and restaurant opening up until fall of 2012 at the earliest. I'm not sure if they can speed this up or not. The plans looked really cool though, with outdoor dining spaces, a wine bar and coffee shop in from of the cinema etc.
A hint of the future of RC can be seen on page three of this flyer: http://www.mccafferyinterests.com/resources/content/5/0/4/documents/Roosevelt-Flyer.pdf
Three more hi-rises will be built on the north side in the next years. The eyesore lot just north of the cinema is allegedely being transformed into a temporary dog park (for use until the hi-rise construction phase begins)
I heard a Omer Asik statue is going in the middle of the park
WHY HASN'T ANYONE TALKED ABOUT THE MUGGINGS AND OVERALL CHAOS THAT IS OVERTAKING THE SOUTH LOOP!!! HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT RESTURANTS AND OMER ASIK!
The park to be built in the center of the Roosevelt Collection will include an outdoor living room (with fireplace), a playground, a wine bar and some planted areas. Parallel parking will be added on both sides of the driveway and the corners will be opened up with wider stairs.
No retail will open until the end of 2012 (according to the landlord) but 60 percent of the stores have been leased or in contract.
Thanks for the pdf of the new Roosevelt Collection plan. I haven't seen that before, and I'm curious about the new park plan, because in the middle of the west side there's an elevator, which means it's not going to be on ground level, but at the theater level.... also the two bridges across Wells Street are interesting.
The most disturbing thing is that the park space is not only not at ground level, but is significantly smaller than original. This area is in desperate need of real park space.
I live close by, and have seen them doing work on that space, so had hopes that they were actually working on the park. Guess not.
Also with such significant changes to the plans for the project, with the new buildings planned, don't there have to be some public meetings? I think we should all contact Fioretti and see what's up with this.
Thanks for the link to the RC drawings... Anyone have additional info on the phase of the project described as "pedestrian corridor and bridge spanning wells street"?
Are these really bridges OVER wells street at this location?
Brendeen-
This isn't Naperville. It's a huge city.
All is pretty exciting news!
Haha, seriously Brendan? I'd love to see you live in a place with actual chaos.
I think that was sarcasm people, geesh
Bredan:
We need positive uplifting news. Just use common sense about public safety don't be pc, (u know what the criminals look like) avoid them don't look like easy prey that will encourage them.
I'm pretty sure Brendan was being sarcastic everyone. Relax.
August 30, 2011 2:23 PM
haha bredan keeps this blog entry alive
The linked plan doesn't look like the most recent one, which was just posted in our lobby at RC... Demolition appears to be wrapping, and I saw some new flashing being installed, which means we should be on our way... I'm stoked about the outdoor space, as a resident with a little one. I come home each day and see progress- am glad to see those buildings gone. Theres still plenty of space for retail.
Entourage Man has reopened in the west loop's Randoplh-Halsted shopping corridor. Too bad about one of the only clothing stores in the entire south loop jumping ship and head north after such a short stint in our hood.
Ate at Waffles today for first time with my family. I soooo wanted to like this place and have been looking forward to trying it since it opened. What a major disappointment on all levels. Shockingly rude and unprofessional hostess (seriously unreal that a new spot like this would allow someone like that be the person that "greets" new customers),poor servive, average food, and high prices. I normally would give a new spot a second chance, but this was such a bad experience. I'll keep taking my family and my money to Stax Cafe on west taylor for weekend brunch.
Heard today that a Jamaican restaurant was opening in the location exited by Entourage Man. The sum of all fears has been realized.
MarkChicago, that is not what those of us who live in the building have been told. I think you are incorrect.
Anon, I hope I'm proven wrong. One of the front desk employees told me that info. The last thing we need is another fringe restaurant or store. (Utopia/Grand Opening/Now Open/Exposure)
saw this posted today. Trader Joe's to open Friday:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/09/07/trader-joes-to-open-in-former-sams-wine-space-in-south-loop/
Article in today's Sun-Times (wednesday, 9-7-11) touting the opening of TJ's highlights the bevy of restaurant closings and vast vacant retail spaces in the south loop. It also states that the potential for commercial growth in the south loop is "iffy."
Gesh, even a positive article about our hood has severe negative undertones.
MarkChicago,
I love to read about great things going on in my neighborhood, but comments like yours make me dread coming on here. How horribly offensive, and not even thinly veiled. "The sum of all fears," and "fringe." You've got to be kidding! How absolutely ridiculous and ignorant in every way.
I, along with lots of people, enjoy Jamaican and other types of "fringe" cuisine. Although I'm sure that someone like you (and others who make forums like this one unwelcoming) would think that I am fringe and represent your fears (LOL), and you would have been better off in one of the city's more vapidly homogeneous neighborhoods.
QFT. Here, here @anon12:56AM!
"MarkChicago,
I love to read about great things going on in my neighborhood, but comments like yours make me dread coming on here. How horribly offensive, and not even thinly veiled. "The sum of all fears," and "fringe." You've got to be kidding! How absolutely ridiculous and ignorant in every way.
I, along with lots of people, enjoy Jamaican and other types of "fringe" cuisine. Although I'm sure that someone like you (and others who make forums like this one unwelcoming) would think that I am fringe and represent your fears (LOL), and you would have been better off in one of the city's more vapidly homogeneous neighborhoods."
@ Thickly Veiled Anon Poster:
Save your verbose idealism, extremely boring.
If by "homogeneous neighborhoods", you mean relatively safe, civilized, popular, upscale areas, consider me guilty of wanting the South Loop continue the pursuit. Cool Runnings!
You want jamacian food truck it on over to cermak with all the other diabetes ridden derelicts. To even think about junking up Michigan freaking ave with a jerk chicken joint is beyond angering the hell out of me.
Wow. Luckily, I couldn't care less if you guys are beyond angry. You save your bigoted venom. By homogeneous, I meant boring, like your ranting. I feel very sorry for you, as you are clearly filled with hate and have been too unfortunate to have the benefit of broader horizons.
I live on Michigan "freaking" Avenue, and would not dream of seeing my investment and home detiorate. Jamaican food, like any other, can be offered in upscale, trendy settings. There's Ja Grill in Lincoln Park, Negril Village in NYC, and countless others in great neighborhoods around the country. Just like anything else, a restaurant can be a mom and pop operation, a tiny take-out spot, or a fine bistro. Why jump to the immediate conclusion that the place would be "fringe?" You clearly equate anything relating to blacks as inherently negative. What if someone reported a new Mexican, Chinese, or Polish restaurant? I've seen all of those in every incarnation, from hole-in-the-wall to upscale. So yeah, you are not even thinly veiled.
If you really want to see the neighborhod flourish, then we need a great variety of great spots--trendy and those that stand the test of time. It cannot be all sports bars and Thai restaurants(as much as I love both).
You have done the opposite of run me away from this forum. I have lived in the South Loop for a long time, and I love my neighborhood. I could live anywhere, and I chose to invest here. There is certainly room for more than your narrow views. Thanks!
NAACP Anon: classic puzzling race card!
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