Look Mr. Mayor...more empty retail space. Get it yet?

Yes karen another store that hadnt been redone in YEARS.. it was an EYESORE just as Randy's was... its time to transform Orland Park into a Beautiful city not a city that in under maintained and falling behind the times!!

drive around down town lagrange or naperville or frankfort.. .. trees and bushes, landscaping in the parking lots .. top notch designs.. we need to give tax relief to these people so they will update and bring this city to their potential!!

So why can't Randy's move into the Old Dominicks store? Here's a business being run out for new development. Move down a few blocks south and remain a viable business. I agree there is TOO much vacant retail space. The mayor and his croonies have their heads up their a****s when it comes to development in this town. LaGrange Road looks like a car wreck with all the vacant space. Next election...let's get this guy out!!!

Have you been in that Dominick's? (go into the bathroom if you dare....you won't keep shopping there!) My experience was always negative - old, run down, poor selection, produce selection was weak. I stopped shopping there b/c of those reasons but would have returned if they updated it. I emailed their corporate offices many times indicating that the store was shameful compared to other stores....4 emails, 0 responses.

Good riddance. This place was Ghetto Groceries. Filthy dirty store. Urinals age in the women’s washroom, sewerage smell wafting from the deli section.

Why is it that everytime a business in Orland Park closes, someone gets on here and blames the mayor? The village can't guarantee any business' profitability. Dominicks made a business decision. So did Borders and several other companies.

John...at some point, when so many businesses are leaving town, the Village has a responsibility to do something to help keep them in town. Other Mayors & boards do it by helping businesses profitablity with other incentivities like tax breaks or reduced fees to help keep them in town. When businesses move out, not only does it mean retails dollars could be spent out of town, but the community looses jobs too. and less jobs, mean less paycheck, which means less spending, which means less retail tax coming into towns to help keep property taxes low and other community services going. Not blaming mayor for closing, upset no effort made to help stop them.

I love coming to this site every day and looking through the comments. There are a couple people who I am convinced sit and wait for any article to be posted so they can bash the city and the mayor. It is starting to get very petty, but at least I can get a laugh out of it.

Yes Paul. The frustration of what could have been. The lack of developing the I-80 corridor that would bring well paying jobs. No one has the answer to who is Orland Parks largest employer yet? And are they hiring?

Andrea is giving common sense replies. I agree - it's not bashing, it's the truth. When I first moved here 25 years ago, Orland Park seemed more desirableto locate within than Tinley Park...but Tinley Park developed a vision and it has been successful. We seem to still have the "good ole boys" mentality. I, as well as many, many others, are taking their retail and restaurant dollar to Oakbrook Mall. And as for the development for "young professionals", my children who are "young professionals" snickered at the thought of living in Orland Park. All the redeveloped areas around downtown Chicago is where it's at...and truly Randy's and the plaza were unique - it could have been renovated into something unique. Whose blaming those store owners for not updating when their hands were tied by the Village?! Right on, Andrea!

Until we elect new blood to the Board we are stuck. I wish we had representative districts in Orland Park. I think this referendum should be on the Ballot during the presidential election.

I can't believe I am defending the clowns who run the village but Dominick's isn't the only store to close. 270 vacant big box spaces in the Chicago area. People are broke, shop at Costco, Wal Mart or Sam's Club, and uncompetitve stores close.
The village botched the Triangle Plaza deal, no doubt. So did Tinley, Arlington Heights, Oak Forest. It is the music man syndrome, but instead of selling 76 trombones to a board of trustees the developer sells a "lifestyle community" with a theater, high end retail, and condos. Greedy trustees, mayors, and hangers on see $ signs in taxes and contracts they can secre for thei private gigs and pul the eminient domain bait and switch to make money. The high end shopping center across from Triangle is in receivership. Whatever the village builds will end p bankrupt as well. Admit when your wrong,
The single greatest problem we face is not bidget shortfalls, the economy, big government, the tea party, or big box vacancy. It is a complete, total lack of accountability. Pointing fingers does nothing. The village had nothing to do with Dominick's alienationg their core customer and becoming unprofitable. That is Dominick's fault. The village was wrong on Triangle Plaza. Stop whining and do something to change things.

I don't think you can automatically blame village government when a business closes for financial reasons, and Dominick's is in a different situation than Orland Plaza. If you are going to automatically blame the village, then in a manner of speaking you're suggesting there should be more local government regulation of local businesses.

Just a few thoughts on this. Some of you have pointed out that Orland Park needs to diversify more like Naperville. Here's the problem with that comparison, Naperville has its geography going for it in a way that Orland does not. Unlike its neigbors, Cook County has a two tiered property tax system. Commercial property is taxed at a higher rate than residential. This makes it a disadvantage for businesses to locate in Cook County as opposed to, say, Will or DuPage. Naperville also has the advantage of being near several major interstates and O'Hare Airport. That's the main reason that so many corporations locate in that area instead of ours.
As far as there being so many chains and franchises and few "mom and pops", thats a function of financing. It's easier for Meijers or McDonalds to put up the money to build a new store than it is for mom and pop. I can tell you as a Plan Commissioner that the village does not put any undue restrictions that would discourage a mom and pop business.
So, I agree that it would be better if Orland Park could diversify its developements, but what are the options? Corporate headquarters and large distribution centers are going to locate in areas that have lower taxes and better transportation networks. The same holds true for industrial and manufacturing, if we even want that. The current economic situation makes those options less likely to happen anywhere.