Business & Community News Connect to Berwyn.net February 2011 Issue 1
Inside This Issue Kia Motors Dealership to open on Ogden This page. Meijer Will bring Berwyn its largest retailer Beginning on this page and continuing on page 2. 2011 Annual Meeting 2010 wrap up & 2011 outlook on pages 3 & 7. Meet the BDC Staff Economic Development Division on page 5. TIF Project Updates The latest project updates from around the community on page 12. Outstanding Business Award New business recognition award on page 13. Grand Openings Recent groundbreaking and grand opening celebrations on page 14.
also inside... Business Resources Page 4, 13 President’s Column Page 6 Buy Berwyn Coupons Page 8-9, 11 News from Partners in our Community Page 10 New BDC Members Page 15 Properties For Lease/Sale Back Cover a community publication brought to you by
berwyn development CO R P O R AT I O N Economic Development and Chamber Services www.berwyn.net T: 708-788-8100 F: 708-788-0966
Kia Motors Drives Into Berwyn
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New dealership opens on Historic Route 66
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his spring, Berwyn Kia, the first new auto dealership on Ogden Avenue in several years, will begin operations at 7050 Ogden Avenue. “In order to enhance Berwyn’s sales-tax base, the City identified Kia as a strong company that wasn’t present in the trade area,” said Anthony Griffin, Executive Director of the BDC. “After much effort by the City, we achieved the go-ahead from Kia’s corporate office. In turn, we began working with the ownership at Willowbrook Ford-Kia to bring them into Berwyn.” Al Meyer, President of Willowbrook FordKia, said, “When Kia corporate and the BDC approached us, we realized that we were presented with a potentially good business opportunity along with forming a great relationship with a City that rolls up its sleeves to achieve progress.” Kia purchased and remodeled the south side of the former Phelan Dodge dealership. With a newly revamped line of automobiles, such as the Kia Soul, the automaker hopes
to increase its US market share by almost 40% in the coming years. A revenue forecast shows that the dealership would be one of the highest producers of sales tax in the City, just behind Meijer. Additionally, the business will create jobs and bring customers to Berwyn. The total project budget is estimated at $2,456,100. The City’s Ogden TIF district will be the funding source that assists with financing the transaction, but the super majority of the project budget is coming from private investment. When asked what the Kia news meant to Berwyn, Mayor Robert Lovero said, “By bringing a new car dealership into the City, we are able to diversify our tax base and strengthen our local economy.” Mayor Lovero added, “considering what the auto industry has gone through the last several years, obtaining a new car dealer was quite a coup and provides a tremendous boost to our historic Route 66 corridor.”
Meijer Will Bring One-Stop-Shopping to Berwyn The full service grocery chain will bring Berwyn its largest retailer
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n January 25, 2011, Berwyn’s City Council unanimously approved a redevelopment agreement with Meijer, a full service grocery chain, to anchor Cermak Plaza located at the intersection of Cermak Road and Harlem Avenue. Meijer currently has nearly 200 locations in the Midwest, and this newest site will be the closest location to downtown Chicago. Alderman Rafael Avila (7th Ward) stated, “Upon opening, Meijer will be the largest retailer in Berwyn and will create over 100 new jobs. Cermak Plaza has come
full circle in the past few years and has restored itself to an attractive shopping destination and an economic asset to the City of Berwyn. We are ecstatic about this progress.” Meijer is a privately owned and operated regional grocery chain stationed primarily in the Midwest. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer pioneered the big-box supercenter concept in 1962. Recently, the chain announced a new development concept, ChicagoLand, for Continued on page 2