The leadership of Palatine constantly works to stay relevant and to offer its residents and those of nearby communities a plethora of services and opportunities to shop, be employed, entertain themselves, enjoy nature and recreational activities, and educate themselves and their children.
So it is not surprising that a number of new businesses and facilities have opened or relocated within Palatine over the past year, according to Deputy Village Manager Mike Jacobs.
For instance, Studio41 Home Design Showroom plans to open at the former site of AC Imports Jaguar on Northwest Highway. Studio41 showrooms are open to homeowners, contractors, designers and architects, whether they are buying a single item or for a whole house. They provide products for kitchens, baths, windows and doors.
They also have showrooms in Glenview, Highland Park, Schaumburg, Naperville and Chicago and are expected to open in Palatine in early 2019.
Portofino’s Woodfire Pizza and Pasta opened in June at 383 W. Northwest Hwy. on the former site of El Torero. The family-owned establishment is open for both lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday, and starting at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
A sizeable portion of the old Hobby Lobby space at Palatine Plaza on Northwest Highway will soon be occupied by a new doggie day care facility with lots of room for canine play. Pete and Mac’s is expected to open this fall.
Along Rand Road, north of Dundee Road, the venerable old Knupper’s Nursery and adjacent village-owned property which once housed a Menard’s store are part of a proposed development by the Napleton Auto Group. They will construct a Subaru-Mazda dealership on the 14-acre parcel, relocating and expanding from farther south along Rand Road in Arlington Heights. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2019.
A bit farther south, just east of the corner of Dundee and Rand Roads, on the site of a long-demolished Speedway gas station, a second three-building complex is expected to be constructed in late 2018 or early 2019. The new buildings will closely resemble those in an adjacent sister project immediately to the west featuring Panera, Mattress Firm and Verizon. Palatine Bank & Trust is expected to occupy one of the new buildings with the other two still available, Jacobs said.
In downtown Palatine, Pan American Bank & Trust has opened its new facility in the old Smith Street Station space adjacent to Durty Nellie’s. It has a single drive-through lane for the convenience of its customers.
In the industrial area south of Northwest Highway along Route 53, H.B. Fuller, experts in industrial adhesives, coatings, sealants and specialty materials, has relocated out of the village. Its 15- to 20-acre parcel is being marketed as a possible site for the construction of a modern distribution center or another manufacturing facility.
To the west, near Harper College, Regency Plaza at the intersection of Euclid and Quentin Roads has filled a portion of the former Dominick’s site with a Crunch Fitness.
Finally, Harper College has recently transformed its 39-year-old Wellness and Sports Center in Building M into a community health and recreation center in partnership with the Palatine Park District and Northwest Community Healthcare. They dedicated the $39 million renovation in September.
The park district contributed $9 million toward the renovation and going forward they will pay a share of the building’s operating costs; operate the indoor pool; and provide adult fitness and recreation programs. In addition, Northwest Community Healthcare will lease 10,000 square feet of the space to provide health care services to students, staff and the community.
“At the end of the day, what we have created together is something we never could have done by ourselves. We’re showing our educational community and the taxpayers what the future of public institutions looks like, not only in this District and State, but across the country,” said Harper College President Dr. Ken Ender.