A Global Business Destination
Elk Grove Village is Home to the Largest Business Park in the U.S.
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INSIDE
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Teaching Tomorrow’s Innovators
World Famous Lamp Sheds Light in Elk Grove Village
Dining Directory
The show was great. I thought it was well planned and well attended. I met several other exhibitors and we all agreed you guys did a very good job. I've been at shows that were ‘national shows’ that were not as well done. I hope this becomes an annual event. Ted, CRAVE Engineering, LLC.
180 EXHIBITORS • 1800 ATTENDEES The Made in Elk Grove Manufacturing & Technology Expo is a special event hosted by the Village of Elk Grove over the past two years to promote its vast manufacturing business community.
For more information, visit
MadeInElkGroveExpo.com
CONTENTS Pg. 8 A History in Transit Tech
Pg. 14 Partners for Business Success
Pg. 20
Pg. 22
Next Level Highway Access
World Famous Lamp Sheds Light in Elk Grove Village
4 Elk Grove Village
Pg. 10
Pg. 12
Teaching Tomorrow’s Innovators
Consistent Reinvention
Pg. 16 Elk Grove Village is Home to the Largest Business Park in the U.S.
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Pg. 26
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Hotel Directory Elk Grove Village
Dining Directory Elk Grove Village
An Inside Look at Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village
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DEAR BUSINESS LEADER, Location, location, location. This axiom has never been more true than in referring to Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Located adjacent to O’Hare International Airport, the City of Chicago, and served by Chicagoland’s vast transportation network, Elk Grove Village is the destination of choice for business investment, entrepreneurs, and innovation. Planned in the 1950s, Elk Grove Village has grown to include the largest consolidated business park in the United States complemented by vibrant residential and commercial districts. Elk Grove Village’s status as a premier international business location attracts companies from Austria, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Switzerland. These companies benefit from the Village’s robust supplier network and a diverse industry mix. The Elk Grove Village Magazine was created with the purpose of highlighting the business location assets of the Village as well as to spotlight the people and companies that drive our economy. I sincerely hope that you use this publication as a starting point to work with the Village to grow or relocate your business and to discover new business opportunities. For additional information about Elk Grove Village, please call Josh Grodzin, Director of Business Development and Marketing, at 847-357-4005 or visit www.egvbizhub.com to find out why Elk Grove Village is Beyond Business Friendly.
Sincerely,
Craig B. Johnson Mayor of Elk Grove Village
6 Elk Grove Village
ELK GROVE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL The Business-Friendly Community With a Global Connection
WRITERS Richard Mayer Tom Robb Tim O’Connor Heather Holm Anne Lunde Stan Zoller Todd Wessell
DESIGN Red Caffeine redcaffeine.com • 630-785-6903 Miranda Vreugdenhil
SUPPORT SERVICES Mary Alice Wenzl Annie Weaver
Back row L to R: Trustee Samuel L. Lissner, Trustee Patton L. Feichter, Trustee James P. Petri, Trustee Jeffrey C. Franke Sitting L to R: Trustee Nancy J. Czarnik, Mayor Craig B. Johnson, Trustee Chris Prochno
Alan Avitia
Journal & Topics Media Group News That Hits Home 622 Graceland Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60016 Office: 847-299-5511 Website: www.journal&topics.com
For information about Elk Grove Village, its Business Park and local business opportunities, contact Business Development & Marketing Director Josh Grodzin at 847-357-4005.
The Village strives to support the community with a variety of business development resources and policies to encourage businesses. Mayor Craig B. Johnson (center bottom row)
Cover photo: ADP Corporate Campus, Elk Grove Village © Des Plaines, Journal, Inc.
Elk Grove Village
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SPX Genfare President Kim Green.
A HISTORY IN TRANSIT TECH Every time someone deposits coins into a Pace or Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus farebox they are connecting with SPX Genfare of Elk Grove Village, a leader in providing customized fare solutions to transit agencies of all sizes throughout North America.
SPX Genfare forklift operator prepares to lower special fare box parts.
8 Elk Grove Village
Involved in fare collection systems for more than three decades, the Fortune 500 company focuses on delivering solutions that are secure, reliable and highly flexible. “As a corporation, we do $5 billion a year in sales,” remarked President Kim Green. And while the company’s headquarters is located in Charlotte, NC, it’s heart is squarely in Elk Grove Village. “Most of our clients are North American-based,” Green said. ”We are probably the premier supplier of bus fare collection equipment. We specialize on the bus side of equipment.” All fareboxes on Pace and CTA buses are manufactured by SPX Genfare. In total, Green said his company services between 200-300 transit agencies all across America. While SPX Genfare officially began in 1980, the company brings with it a transit history that spans back to the late 19th century. A well known politician and inventor named Tom Loftin Johnson from Georgetown, KY changed early public transit.
Johnson, who eventually moved to Chicago, started the Johnson Farebox Co. after he successfully created the first coin-operated farebox. A few years later, he partnered with the Saint Louis Car Co. During the early 1900s, the farebox gained popularity and new, evolving innovation became inevitable. Johnson answered by introducing the Model D farebox. It was a renewed version of the earlier “cranker” fareboxes that collected the fare by the conductor cranking a handle to push the coins through the farebox. This time around, Johnson Farebox had added an electric motor that took care of the cranking for the conductor. As Johnson Farebox grew, it began purchasing other smaller farebox companies like Cleveland Farebox, which was acquired in 1938. Cleveland was one of the only companies to use a vault box that the fare was deposited into. As Johnson kept developing, many other transit companies did the same
Rows upon rows of assembled fareboxes line SPX Genfare’s new 72,000-sq.-ft. quarters in Elk Grove Village.
and eventually Johnson, which had absorbed Cleveland Farebox, would become a part of Keene Farebox in the mid-1950s. Another company that was also pulled into the transit business was the Duncan Parking Meter Co. (the same Duncan company that is famous for the Yo-Yo) when the CTA requested an electronic cashbox system that counted the fares and displayed them on a digital display. According to Green, in the late 1950s and into the early 1960s, Duncan had a manufacturing facility in Chicago. Eventually, it needed to expand. At that time, the business park in Elk Grove Village was relatively new and company leaders decided to move to the suburbs. They built a facility on Pratt Avenue in Elk Grove Village, which was relatively small at first. Additions were built over the years giving the company more space. Green said the parking meter business they controlled eventually moved to Arkansas and the fare collection equipment for the transit system took over that building. General Farebox Inc. (GFI) was founded in 1980 under the umbrella of General Railway Signal, a subsidiary of General Signal. GFI had developed the first electronic registering farebox called the CentsaBill in the same year and sold it to Dallas, TX, its first major customer. In the mid-1980s, GFI acquired the Keene Farebox and Duncan Transit
companies, integrated their technology and built a foundation for further innovations in transit. GFI quickly became the new leader of transit technology and created many mainstays of the American and Canadian transportation systems. The 1990s were an important decade for Genfare, starting with Nov. 1,1990 when GFI changed its name to GFI Genfare. The reasoning for the name change was that the company became more than just a farebox manufacturer with the addition of ticket vending machines, transit turnstiles, and a variety of specialty items. In the middle of the decade the U.S. Postal Service contracted GFI Genfare to develop and manufacture over 6,000 stamp vending machines now coined as the Vendstar product line. In 1998, Genfare became a part of SPX of North Carolina. Along with new ownership came an eventual new moniker in SPX Genfare, in use today. Shortly after the merger in 2001, SPX Genfare had introduced its now flagship validating farebox product, Odyssey. The new farebox not only validated the inserted coins and bills as genuine but returned unacceptable coins and tokens. By 2005, Genfare had extended its services to multiple cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. This past August, SPX Genfare relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility at 800
Arthur Ave. in Elk Grove Village, only minutes away from its previous facility on Pratt Boulevard that they called home since 1969. “The facility on Pratt served us well for many years but over the last several years, we have grown our workforce and ran out of room,” Green said. The facility on Pratt spanned a little over 50,000 sq. ft. and the new one now totals 72,000 sq. ft. in size. Green said the company’s workforce has increased from 100 people a decade ago to around 170 today. “This is the one and only facility where we do everything out of a central location,” Green said. In this facility, employees perform all administrative operations from marketing to sales to customer service as well as manufacture all boxes and perform product development. Depending on the type of box needed, they range from $8,000$15,000 each. The higher-end boxes are for people who not only want to pay cash when riding, but also use mobile tickets, magnetic cards and even their smartphones to access rides. “Security, reliability and accuracy is what we like to deliver in our systems and we try very hard to satisfy our customers and give the best service we can,” Green added. By Richard Mayer
Elk Grove Village 9
TEACHING TOMORROW’S INNOVATORS An emphasis on becoming skilled business men and women continues to blossom at Elk Grove High School. Students there can learn how to run a business in the new entrepreneurship class that kicked off this year.
In addition, students also have the opportunity to learn how to create products in manufacturing classes and how to design products in engineering classes. These are all part of the Career Technology and STEM Pathways program at the school. In the entrepreneurship program, students brainstorm business ideas using the “Lean Startup Philosophy.” “Students pitch ideas in a ‘Shark Tank’ television format,” explained Kyle Burritt, associate principal at the high school. “Kids form ideas and work through those over the course of the year.” This is the first year the entrepreneurship program is being offered. 10 Elk Grove Village
Students at Elk Grove High School can learn how to run a business in a new entrepreneurship class that started at the school this year. Teacher Chad Froeschle leads the class while local business representatives speak with students about running a company.
The program also includes testing a product to find the lowest cost. For example, Barrington High School, where the program has been underway for the last year, wanted to create an app that said when a school bus was going to arrive at a stop so students would not have to wait in inclement weather. They figured out how to do so in the least costly manner. Since these are only ideas, the app was not funded, but Burritt said that if someone wants to fund an idea, those involved at Elk Grove High School would be all for it. “We are open to all kinds of
suggestions for funding,” he said. “We will be taking this year-by-year. The goal is to get kids to think differently and solve problems in a business sense and in a lean startup way.” During the class, several individuals from local businesses visit to speak with students about running a business. “They will team-teach part of the class in their specific area,” said Chad Froeschle, business incubator teacher. Bill Marston, CEO of Service Shipping in Elk Grove Village, visited the class a few times to speak with students. “I wish my children could have had something like this,” he said. “It
I wish my children could have had something like this...It could have helped my daughter, who is interning now and will become a doctor. It is exposing students to things I had no idea about when I started my business... Bill Marston, CEO of Service Shipping in EGV
could have helped my daughter, who is interning now and will become a doctor. It is exposing students to things I had no idea about when I started my business. I am here for four days and I’ll come back later in the semester.” Marston noted how the class is even more important for non-business students who do not plan on taking business classes in college. Other classes offered to students to help with the future include manufacturing and engineering programs. This is the fourth year for the manufacturing program and
the school has had the engineering program for about 10 years. “Since Elk Grove Village has the largest business park in North America, there is a pretty big interest in the manufacturing program,” Burritt explained. Bill Merchantz, the manufacturing teacher, helps students with welding, metal making and creating. Companies such as MET Plastics, Acme Industries and Diemasters in Elk Grove Village have also helped with the program and donated equipment. Additionally, the engineering classes are offered to students
interested in pursuing that field. “Right now, we are introducing the design process,” said Patrick McGing, engineering teacher. “This is the process of solving problems to find a solution.” One way to do this is through reverse engineering. “You pick out a product and disassemble it and find a way to improve or model it while putting it back together,” he said. This is done with big companies such as Samsung vs. Apple: “If someone has a comparable product, they take it apart and approve or mimic it in some way,” McGing added. By Heather Holm Elk Grove Village 11
A row of recently assembled TimeDomain Light speakers await shipping. The high quality devices are being manufactured at Bigston Corporation in Elk Grove Village.
CONSISTENT REINVENTION As most successful business executives are well aware, change is inevitable. Markets expand and constrict, tastes vary and evolve, and demand for services ebbs and flows. There’s a four-decade-old company in Elk Grove Village’s expansive Business Park that has managed to find the flexibility needed to meet those always changing market conditions by continuously reinventing itself and the products it manufactures, services and promotes in order to serve a continuously shifting global clientele. Today, Bigston Corp. occupies a 68,000-sq.-ft. building at 1590 Touhy Ave. When the company was founded in Japan long ago, its main focus was on refurbishing electronics and appliances. With expansion into the American market in mind, the father of current Bigston Vice President Tom Sekiguchi set off for the U.S. to set up a new branch. In 1972, the Elk Grove Village facility opened and 12 Elk Grove Village
eventually employed 500 people. However, the ups and downs of a fickle global economy eventually led to the decision to refocus on servicing product returns and repairs for Sears and other electronic makers. Those efforts continued for some time until the Sekiguchis knew that economic forces would again require even more change. That resulted in further branching out into programs such as providing digital signage for the New York City and New Jersey transit systems, and most recently to securing the rights to the design of a small, yet powerful egg-shaped speaker that brings to listeners an unparalleled pure sound void of typical electronic distortions. “Now we’re looking to get into medical equipment and power generation equipment,” said Tom Sekiguchi from his Elk Grove Village office. “We have a customer base in China for the medical equipment and
Bigston Corporation Vice President Tom Sekiguchi holds up a TimeDomain Light speaker. The company recently became the exclusive makers of TimeDomain speakers in the United States.
there’s also a demand in the United States. We also do things like repair cameras...refurbish them like new and sell them in the secondary market.” “We’ve been here a long time and have seen a lot of changes. The Village is making improvements in all the buildings around us. Nearly all are brand new warehouses.” Sekiguchi explained that he and the 70 people who now work for Bigston are “always looking at other profitable businesses to get involved in.” One such business he has high hopes for, besides the speakers, is manufacturing and marketing a MIDI foot pedal for rock bands. He said his company has already begun forming relationships with musicians to promote the product. “We’re always evolving,” added Sekiguchi. “You have to in order to prosper and survive. We plan on staying here in Elk Grove Village indefinitely.” By Todd Wessell
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CONTACT: Josh Grodzin Director of Business Development & Marketing email: JGrodzin@elkgrove.org phone: 847-357-4005 mobile: 847-345-6401
Elk Grove Village 13
PARTNERS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
Bruce Barnett walked casually onto a massive construction site in Elk Grove Village that was humming with activity. The location on Busse Road is where a huge data center is being built. The affable Barnett waved to the construction workers asking them how their day was going. Barnett was steady on his feet as he strolled around large conduit piping that was lying across uneven terrain of wet and dry concrete and mud. Barnett was as familiar as anyone who had visited the site. He’s been there everyday for Elk Grove Village builds trust and rapport between developers, construction the last month performing his job as an managers and laborers, and Village officials through the new business Elk Grove Village inspector. regulatory process. That type of individualized attention to building projects has become a hallmark of the way the Village operates when it comes to regulating development. Local officials are serious when they say they want to be known as the most Business Friendly Community in America—even with the 100 million sq. ft. of office and manufacturing space Village wide it has to keep an eye on. As home to the largest business park in the U.S., Elk Grove Village also has one of the lowest vacancy rates in the O’Hare Airport industrial market. About a year and a half ago, Mayor Craig Johnson announced a major shift in the way the village shepherds businesses through the local government’s required regulatory process. That change resulted in assigning one Village employee to a specific project, which had the effect of simplifying what could be a stressful process into one where companies could reach their goals via a one-stop shopping attitude. “We assign one point person. We don’t do the run around,” Johnson said. Under the new and improved program, one Village employee, like Barnett, will be assigned as an inspector on a building’s exterior work before more specialized fire, electrical or plumbing inspectors are brought into the process. That kind of one-on-one attention builds a trust and rapport between Elk Grove Village inspector Mike Delfavero talks with construction foreman Anthony Ciccone about developers, construction managers excavation at a worksite at 1950 Pratt Ave. to make way for an addition to the Clear Lamb food packaging and manufacturing plant. and laborers, and Village officials that 14 Elk Grove Village
Work crews at the Cosmic Ventures, Inc. data center under construction at 2299 Busse Rd. lay conduit on the third layer on top of seven to 10 feet of already laid conduit to service the massive facility.
Workers use a crane to lift a large storm trap from a truck that will serve as the base of a planned parking deck for an expansion of the Clear Lamb food packaging and processing plant at 1950 Pratt Ave., Elk Grove Village. The storm traps will hold excess storm water after storm events allowing it to filter back into the ground, preventing flooding.
developers to build projects in stages. speeds the process along, Johnson added. Pye said a permit for demolition may Business Development and be granted while a permit from MWRD Marketing Director Josh Grodzin said is still pending. he regularly meets with real estate The individualized approach allows developers and their clients before a inspectors to better react to many building is even purchased. When he unforeseen changes during construction. does that, Grodzin spends time to walk At a site in the 1900 block of Pratt through the property to not only get a Boulevard, Village inspector Mike sense of what they envision for that Delfavero recently met construction development but to make suggestions crew leader Anthony Ciccone at the early on to help developers and edge of a large square pit filled with owners meet their goals. gravel. The plan had been to place Grodzin said long concrete Elk Grove Village personnel before permit segments called can process most permit applications are storm traps into applications in house, even filed, he hosts the ground. Storm within seven to ten days, a meeting with traps would have Pye and Grodzin remarked. developers to learn held storm water what they are looking while at the same for. He then assembles the right people time creating the bottom base for a to address those needs. parking lot or building. Community Development Excavating exposed soil and rain Director Mary Jo Pye said her staff water that fell the night before delayed attends those meetings in a “solution placing the storm trap segments orientated” state of mind in an attempt Ciccone explained. Delfavero said to be “proactive problem solvers.” it was no problem. He would simply Elk Grove Village personnel can return the next day to check in on the process most permit applications in project’s process. “We’re a business-orientated house within seven to ten days, Pye community,” Mayor Johnson said. and Grodzin remarked. “We know how to work and partner Large projects often require with businesses in Elk Grove Village. multiple permits both from the Village Our goal is to provide exceptional and sometimes from outside agencies customer service.” such as the Water Reclamation District By Tom Robb (MWRD) of Greater Chicago. Elk Grove Village allows Elk Grove Village 15
ELK GROVE VILLAGE IS HOME TO
THE LARGEST BUSINESS PARK IN THE U.S.
With its familiar Elk symbol, sign shows visitors the way to Elk Grove Village’s huge Business Park.
When Elk Grove Village talks about being a “planned community,” it means it. Over the past six decades its residents and municipal leaders have worked to maximize the Village’s opportunities for growth and jobs.
16 Elk Grove Village
Today, the Elk Grove Village Business Park advertises itself as the largest consolidated Business Park in the United States, with about 62 million sq. ft. of industrial space, housing close to 3,400 businesses and 70,000 employees. Sixty years ago, before there was either a Village Hall or a public library or the Jaycees in Elk Grove Village, there was Centex, a Dallas, Texas-based developer that transformed acres of local farmland into a fledgling business park between 1954 and 1956. The Village was incorporated in 1956 with 116 residents. Its nearest neighbor to the east was the future O’Hare International Airport, which had expanded during World War II from a tiny airfield to a factory for Douglas Aircraft. Douglas’ factory operated only between 1942 and the end of the war, but it proved that if a factory out beyond the city of Chicago had enough contracted work and enough ways to get workers to the jobs, it could be successful. One of the early advantages, which the Elk Grove Village business park offered, was rail connections. A rail switching yard and a series of spur tracks were built behind nearly every block in an area bounded by Landmeier and Devon on the north and Elmhurst and Tonne roads on
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL is host to more than 3,600 businesses.
Elk Grove Village 17
At nearby O’Hare International Airport, cargo aircraft serve the business and industrial needs of the region including Elk Grove Village’s expansive Business Park. (photo courtesy of the Chicago Department of Aviation)
Trucks transport millions of tons of goods and supplies into Elk Grove Village’s Business Park every year.
Rail lines link Elk Grove Village’s Business Park with the rest of country.
18 Elk Grove Village
the south, giving door-to-door access for deliveries or shipping by rail. The network currently is operated as the Chicago Terminal Railroad, part of a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings known as Permian Basin Railways. Because the tracks originally were built by predecessors of the Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific systems, the local tracks also connect to the wider freight network for the Canadian Pacific and Burlington Northern lines. The success of the first Centex industrial area led to other similar developments including the Arthur J. Rogers Business Park, Prologues Industrial Park, and Hamilton Partners Industrial Parks. The total industrial area is now about six square miles in size. The Elk Grove Village Business Park, nestled at the back of the airport, was in the right place when the tollway system was built around it and the airport in the mid-1950s. There would be road connections for workers to reach jobs and for businesses to receive and deliver materials and products. From that beginning, Elk Grove Village pinned its hopes and dreams on keeping its industrial area vibrant and successful. Josh Grodzin, the Village’s director of business and marketing, invests a lot of his time promoting how the Village and the business park can remain the right fit for manufacturers and their suppliers, warehouses or shipping offices. He also maintains a list of business and industrial spaces available for sale or lease. He says the goal is for Elk Grove Village to be “the most business friendly community in America.” The Village is active in the Technology and Manufacturing Association, and Grodzin attends various trade shows to keep in touch with the market. He also “cold calls” companies to ask what they need, so Elk Grove Village knows what else it might want to offer. Grodzin said that clustering interdependent businesses in the same neighborhood can save time and money, especially for companies
O’Hare International Airport, the world’s busiest, is located adjacent to Elk Grove Village’s Business Park, the largest consolidated Business Park in the country with 62 million sq. ft. of space. (photo courtesy of the Chicago Department of Aviation)
that were ordering parts from out-oftown suppliers. Even auxiliary services are available in Elk Grove Village, Grodzin said. “You can get metal fabricated locally. There are companies that specialize in specific types of metal work, like chrome. “There are printers. There are packing companies that make special packages and companies that make packing machinery.” There still are some limits on access to public transportation. Most of the surviving major commuter railroad lines were built elsewhere decades before Elk Grove Village was a destination. Pace, the RTA’s suburban bus division, has established special shuttle routes to serve commuters who need to reach the business park. Grodzin says he works with Pace when a company has special needs. Pace also provides van sharing and ride pool programs to assist commuters. Elk Grove Village is strategically located on the Northwest Tollway (I-90,
now the Jane Addams Tollway), which was designated as “The Northwest Golden Corridor” because of its business opportunities. It prompted regional planning agencies to look into additional public transit routes that might eventually benefit the business park as well. The Village is still steering its own course for maintaining its industrial viability. In 1996 the 12-member Industrial & Commercial Revitalization Commission was created. Bankers, realtors, and business owners work with several Village Trustees, the director of Public Works, Community Development, and the Village’s senior engineer. Their original 10-year Master Revitalization Plan, passed in 1998, focused on projects like upgrading infrastructure. Major intersections were widened or rebuilt to keep traffic moving. Within the park, driveways and corners were redesigned to be more negotiable for modern trucks. Better streetlights were added, street signs were made more readable, and landscaping, medians,
bus shelters and employee rest areas were improved. A changing economy and changing traffic plans from O’Hare Airport meant that the community needed to take a new look at the business Village’s future. An updated master plan was passed in 2012. Through concept planning for 15 sub-areas, the plan offers guidelines to create new developments in vacant and unincorporated areas, and to upgrade development standards for the existing business park. “As development and redevelopment moves forward, the guidelines will assist to move new construction towards a higher standard, setting a tone for the future,” the plan report says. “These days, we compete regionally,” Grodzin says. “This is a very regional economy.” That means, he adds, that a company that wants this scale of networked industrial and manufacturing business park in Illinois would look at Elk Grove Village first. By Anne Lunde Elk Grove Village 19
NEXT LEVEL
H I G H WAY A C C E S S
Workers pour concrete along section of Tri-State Tollway that connects Illinois with Indiana and Wisconsin.
The long anticipated Elgin-O’Hare Western Access (EOWA) will do more than make it easier for residents in the Western suburbs to get to O’Hare International Airport. It will give Elk Grove Village’s six-square-mile Business Park a significant boost. Already the nation’s biggest contiguous business park, housing nearly 3,600 firms and providing Elk Grove Village with nearly 80 percent of its tax revenue, the development of the EOWA, combined with improvements along the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) and I-290 stand to enhance the Business Park’s marketability and access. Once seen as a dream, “construction of the Illinois Tollway’s $3.4 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access (EOWA) Project is in full swing including the start of work 20 Elk Grove Village
on the $440 million Illinois Route 390/I-290 Interchange Project and the $54 million Elmhurst Road Interchange Project,” said Illinois Tollway spokesperson Dan Rozek. The interchange is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016. In addition to the work along I-90, which parallels the northern edge of Elk Grove Village’s Business Park, the Illinois Tollway is completely rebuilding the I-290 Interchange at the existing Elgin O'Hare Expressway, now known as Illinois Route 390. The interchange is expected to see significant growth. Tollway figures show that about 83,000 vehicles per day use the ramps at Illinois Route 390/I-290 Interchange. When completed, Tollway officials expect that number to skyrocket to
127,000 vehicles per day and use the new interchange ramps when it opens in 2017 — an increase of more than 53 percent. The increase in the use of the interchange reflects traffic patterns in the area. Tollway data has found that nearly 240,000 vehicles a day travel through the Illinois Route 390/I-290 area. By 2030, they say, that number is expected to increase to 340,000. A main component to the EOWA is a high speed fly over ramp bridge and ramps connecting westbound I-290 to Illinois Route 390 and eastbound I-290 to westbound Illinois Route 390. It is expected to open to traffic in 2015. One project that is expected to be completed by the end of this year is construction of a new four lane Devon Avenue Bridge over I-290. That project
is needed to accommodate new ramps being built at the I-290 Interchange. So how does this benefit Elk Grove Village’s Business Park? With less than an 8 percent vacancy rate, the focus will be enhancement and retention of those firms located in the business park. That effort, however, is not unique to the Business Park. The Village’s Office of Business Development & Marketing manages and administers the Village’s business development initiative which includes marketing, revitalization and redevelopment activities; business retention and attraction, business outreach: and overall enhancement of the economic viability of the community, according to Josh Grodzin, Director of Business Development and Marketing. “It will be another transportation link in and out of the Village,” Grodzin remarked. “On one hand, it is an incredible retention tool because we don’t want people to leave the Village. It offers firms and companies currently in Elk Grove Village a great incentive to stay here.” Deputy Village Manager Matthew Roan said the EOWA, plus the new interchange at Elmhurst Road will increase the efficiency of traffic going in and out of the Business Park. Much of the traffic, which generally uses Landmeier Road, Oakton Street and Higgins Road, will not need those roadways to access the Business Park. Also, the new interchange at Elmhurst Road is expected to divert motorists from the Arlington Heights Road interchange, which is likely to ease eastbound traffic to the Business Park. Roan said Elk Grove Village is a unique situation. While some neighboring communities may be looking at ways the EOWA may boost tourism or office building, Elk Grove Village’s most dynamic resource, its Business Park, is expected to continue to flourish in a much more efficient way.
More than $3 billion worth of improvements are currently underway on the Jane Addams Tollway (a brand new full interchange on I-90 at Elmhurst road) that serves Elk Grove Village and the entire region.
The Des Plaines Oasis, in operation since the late 1950s, was recently demolished to make room for widening of I-90.
By Stan Zoller
A major tollway project is the extension of the Elgin O’Hare Expressway that will have a major impact on Elk Grove Village.
Elk Grove Village 21
WORLD FAMOUS LAMP SHEDS LIGHT IN ELK GROVE VILLAGE
Close-up of Lava Lite at company’s Elk Grove Village facility.
The maker of the world-renowned Lava Lamp has been headquartered in Elk Grove Village at 1200 Thorndale Ave. since 2011. In 2015, the company will celebrate 50 years of distributing its products in the U.S. “We are an American icon and in the Smithsonian Institute,” President and CEO Clay Farnsworth said. “We are well-known all over the country.” Farnsworth said his company reaches out to customers all across the country by selling their product to big box stores such as Walmart, Target, Kmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Spencer’s Gifts, Menards, Home Depot, Lowes and Aldi. The company has seen several owners over the years. The company’s current owner is Bill Wolf. Farnsworth said the business was first created overseas in the United Kingdom in 1963. Then, two people licensed and purchased the manufacturing rights in 1965. Several other owners followed. Farnsworth said the majority owner today is private equity firm BW Capital Partners controlled by Wolf. “We have the right to the name and shape of the Lava Lamp or light,” Farnsworth explained “There are other people with motion
Row of Lava Lites displaying every color of the rainbow line along shelf in company headquarters.
22 Elk Grove Village
Displaying just a few of the many Lava Lite offerings are, from left, John Howell, vice president of marketing, CEO and President Clay Farnsworth, and Tiffany McKibben, product manager.
lamps but our lamps use a liquid in the lamp that has several different chemicals that stretches the wax.” Farnsworth said his company has often found that its product is often imitated but emphasized it can never be duplicated. According to Farnsworth, two million Lava Lamps are manufactured and shipped annually. He added his company goes above and beyond the traditional Lava Lamps. “We have products that use iconic shapes, that have aquariums and tornados inside, Electro Plasma Glitter and much more,” Farnsworth remarked. “We have a full product line. We have 17 different items alone in Walmart stores.”
Standing in the expansive warehouse area of Lava Lite in Elk Grove Village’s Business Park are Michael Kehrmann, (left), senior vice president of global pperations and Clay Farnsworth, CEO and president.
Farnsworth said his company has grown dramatically over the years to include marketing bathroom scales as another product. Within the last year, Lava Lite has taken the traditional glow and made it tri-colored. Farnsworth said this new idea makes it appear that the Lava Lamp is changing color. According to Farnsworth, Lava Lite has an extremely good relationship with the Village of Elk Grove. The company came to Elk Grove Village after occupying office space in Elmhurst and a warehouse in Chicago. He said the move has been a great fit. “It meets our needs in terms of good office space and Elk Grove Village is known for having a good
working environment not only for our employees but also for our warehouse space needs as well,” Farnsworth said. Lava Lite employs approximately 20 individuals occupying a 72,000 sq. facility. Of that 72,000 sq. ft., 60,000 are for warehouse purposes and the other 12,000 sq. ft. is used for office needs. All Lava Lamps are produced in China, but sales and marketing are done in Elk Grove Village. He added all products are developed here as well as packaging. Farnsworth said his company is private and earned under $50 million in revenues last year. By Richard Mayer
NOW IT'S EASIER THAN EVER TO FIND THE RIGHT BUILDING FOR YOU IN ELK GROVE VILLAGE!
We’ve made improvements that: Make it easier to find the site you’re looking for Provide details about Elk Grove Village Inform potential tenants navigating the site Elk Grove Village 23
STAY WITH US Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village welcomes guests from all over the world. Come stay in one of our many lodging options. COUNTRY INN & SUITES BY CARLSON ELK GROVE VILLAGE
ELK GROVE HOTEL 1600 Oakton St. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-0010 ElkGroveHotel.com
1160 W. Devon Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-985-0101 CountryInns.com
President’s Award winning property; Top 25% in guest satisfaction ranking; ideally located 3 miles from Woodfield Mall, 12 miles from O’Hare, and minutes from Metra Rail to Chicago.
Located 5 miles from O'Hare Airport, Ramada O'Hare offers free airport transportation. It also has a great indoor pool for your enjoyment. Get a workout in the 24-hour fitness center.
HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO ELK GROVE VILLAGE
DAYS INN ELK GROVE VILLAGE
1000 Busse Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-437-6010 HolidayInn.com
1000 W. Devon Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-895-2085 DaysInn.com
Newly Renovated Hotel! Offers complimentary breakfast, wireless internet, business center, fitness center, local calls, and USA Today Newspaper to all guests! Call now and book your next stay.
Conveniently located in the center of Elk Grove Village Business Complex and only 15 minutes from O'Hare International Airport.
Shuttle Service
Complimentary Breakfast
Pet Friendly
Business Center
Fitness Facility
Pool
24 Elk Grove Village
HOWARD JOHNSON INN & SUITES ELK GROVE VILLAGE
QUALITY INN & SUITES O'HARE-CHICAGO/ ELK GROVE VILLAGE
1925 Higgins Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-472-7000 Hojo.com
100 N. Busse Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-593-8600 QualityInnElkGrove.com
Get a bright start with hot Belgian waffles served at our free Rise & Dine continental breakfast. Book a suite at our Elk Grove Village hotel and enjoy all the amenities you need for a great time, including a microwave, refrigerator and wet bar.
INTOWN SUITES-CHICAGO NORTHWEST ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2411 Landmeier Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-228-5500 InTownSuites.com
The Quality Inn & Suites Elk Grove Village is just 5 miles away from Woodfield. The hotel is convenient to O’Hare International Airport, Rosemont Convention Center, AllState Arena, Rosemont Theater, CTA Train Station, Woodfield Mall and Schaumburg Convention Center.
SHERATON SUITES CHICAGO - ELK GROVE 121 Northwest Point Blvd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-290-1600 StarWoodHotels.com/Sheraton
Our Elk Grove Village temporary housing location offers: Fully Furnished Efficiencies, Complete Kitchens, Free High-speed Internet, Premium TV Lineup, Guest Laundry Facility, Weekly Housekeeping, Included Utilities, Low Weekly Rates, No Lease Required.
251 two room suites with Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds and sleeper sofas. 5600 sq. ft. of function space., 8 function rooms. Complimentary HSIA at TheLink@Sheraton. Indoor/Outdoor pools. 24 hour fitness facilities sponsored by Core Performance.
LA QUINTA INN-CHICAGO/O'HARE AIRPORT
SUPER 8 CHICAGO O'HARE
1900 E. Oakton Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-439-6767 LQ.com
2951 Touhy Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-827-3133 Super8OHare.com
The La Quinta Inn Chicago O’Hare Airport is just minutes northwest of O’Hare International Airport. We are the perfect destination for business visitors to United Airlines Training Center (2 mi), Elk Grove Village Business Park, Allstate Arena (3 mi).
Super 8 O’Hare is located on north-west corner of the O’Hare International Airport. We offer a FREE Shuttle to and from O’Hare International airport, CTA Blue Line train station, Allstate Arena and Donald E. Stephens Convention center.
MOTEL 6 - CHICAGO/ELK GROVE 1601 Oakton St, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9766 Motel6.com
All new rooms. Recently renovated all guestrooms. Outstanding location near the intersection of Oakton Street and Higgins Road. O’Hare Airport - 8 miles. Allstate Arena - 5 miles. Complimentary morning coffee. WiFi available in all rooms.
TRAVELODGE O’HARE/ELK GROVE VILLAGE 2881 Touhy Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-803-9400 StayOHare.com Limited service hotel located adjacent to O’Hare Airport with 24 hour complimentary shuttle van service, wireless internet, extended continental breakfast, fitness room and guest laundry.
WYNDHAM GARDEN ELK GROVE VILLAGE O'HARE 2550 Landmeier Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-593-6200 WyndHam.com The Brand New Wyndham Garden O’Hare/Elk Grove Village is a contemporary urban retreat convenient to both O’Hare and Midway Airports, downtown Chicago and Woodfield Mall. We are conveniently located in the center of Elk Grove Village Business Complex. Elk Grove Village 25
DINING DIRECTORY Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village has a variety of dining options for you to choose from.
A All Ways Catering
110 Turner Ave. 847-640-6614
Black Steer Charhouse
BlackSteerCharhouse.com 180 E. Devon Ave. 847-923-5000 Brown’s Chicken
Avenue BG
BGAvenue.com 1000 E. Higgins Rd. 847-437-1440 Avalon Banquets
AvalonBanquets.com 1905 E Higgins Rd. 847-439-5740
B Betty’s
BrownsChicken.com 90 E. Devon Ave. 847-593-5230 Bubby’s Beefs & Red Hots
1026 E. Higgins Rd. 847-357-0079 Burger Bungalow
BurgerBungalow.com 1090 Landmeier Rd. 847-981-0001 Burger King
1183 Biesterfield Rd. 630-656-5747
BK.com 630 Meacham Rd. 847-985-0969
Belvedere Events & Banquets
Burger King
1170 W. Devon Ave. 630-534-0600 Big Sammy’s Hot Dogs
BigSammysHotDogs.com 130 Biesterfield Rd. 847-806-1114 Big Sammy’s Hot Dogs
BK.com 2814 E. Higgins Rd. 847-640-6780 BK.com 2001 Busse Rd. 847-228-0233
C
Bistro Dragon
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc
BistroDragon.com 644 Meacham Rd. 847-895-6140
Chipotle.com 910 Elk Grove Town Center 847-434-1030 Coach’s Corner
Dacoachs.com 152 Biesterfield Rd. 847-956-1818 26 Elk Grove Village
Doggit Hot Dogs
Doggit.net 812 E. Higgins Rd. 847-364-1760 Dream Frozen Yogurt
DreamFrozenYogurt.com 621 Meacham Rd. 630-912-2191 Dunkin Donuts
DunkinDonuts.com 1101 Nerge Rd. 847-352-4122 Dunkin Donuts
DunkinDonuts.com 801 Meacham Rd. 847-534-9700 Dunkin Donuts
DunkinDonuts.com 700 E. Higgins Rd. 847-593-1419 Dunkin Donuts
DunkinDonuts.com 674 Meacham Rd. 847-534-0000
Burger King
BigSammysHotDogs.com 701 Meacham Rd. 630-529-1327
D
E Ej Pierogi
1700 Oakton St. 847-258-4854 Elly’s Pancake House
EllysPancakeHouse.com/Elk-Grove 1140 Devon Ave. 847-923-9000
Elsewhere Bar & Grill
1190 E. Higgins Rd. 847-640-1114
F
L Las Islas Marias
1251 E. Higgins Rd. 847-952-0922 Lou Malnati’s Pizza
LouMalnatis.com/Elk-Grove-Village 1050 E. Higgins Rd. 847-439-2000
Fatt Mustard Cafe
FattMustard.com 586 E. Devon Ave. 847-640-1060
G Good Tequila’s
GoodTeguilas.com 950 Elk Grove Town Center 937-871-5164 Great American Bagel
GreatAmericanBagel.com 617 Meacham Rd. 847-534-0959
H Happy Elephant
M Marino’s Pizzeria Café
Marinostaste.com 1041 Rohlwing Rd. 847-352-0090
PeapodRestaurant.com 84 Biesterfield Rd. 847-806-1377 Peking Express
PekingExpressOnline.com 576 E. Devon Ave. 847-956-1020 Penny’s Bistro
130 Biesterfield Rd. 847-621-2941 Penny’s Bistro
701 Meacham Rd. 847-653-9119 Penny’s Place
296 Devon Ave. 847-640-0936
McDonald’s
McDonalds.com 1450 Busse Rd. 847-439-1540
Pete’s-A-Pie
PizzaByPoppies.com 578 E. Devon Ave. 847-364-4300
McDonald’s
McDonalds.com 633 Meacham Rd. 847-923-0345
Portillo’s Hot Dogs
Portillos.com 1500 Busse Rd. 847-228-6677
McDonald’s
HappElephant.com 1045 Rohlwing Rd. 847-923-9200
McDonalds.com 10 Biesterfield Rd. 847-364-4525
Hardee’s
McDonald’s
Q
Hardees.com 1551 Busse Rd. 847-979-8155
McDonalds.com 1912 E. Higgins Rd. 847-437-7949
Hibachi Grill Buffet
Munchie’s
101 Busse Rd. 847-593-6633
Peapod Restaurant
Quizno’s
QuiznosElkGrove.com 932 Busse Rd. 847-640-7970
3 Turner Ave. 847-439-0393
R Rammy’s Sub Contractors
J Jersey Mike’s Subs
O OK Burrito
JerseyMikes.com 178 Biesterfield 847-258-4605
832 Arlington Heights Rd. 847-758-0570 Orange Leaf
Jimmy Johns
JimmyJohns.com 920 Elk Grove Town Center 847-806-7070
916 Elk Grove Town Center 847-378-8417
P
Julian’s BBQ & Grill
JuliansBBQnGrill.com 552 E. Devon Ave. 847-956-1606
K Krispy Kreme Doughnut
KrispyKreme.com 412 E. Devon Ave. 847-472-9500 Kostene’s Grill
600 Devon Ave. 847-621-2922
Panda Express
PandaExpress.com 932 Busse Rd. 847-593-5781 Panera Bread
PaneraBread.com 90 Biesterfield Rd. 847-640-2602 Pasta Mia
PastaMiaEGV.com 642 Meacham Rd. 847-923-9999
RammysSubs.com 1022 E. Higgins Rd. 847-981-7524 Realtime Sports Bar & Grill
RealtimeSportsBar.com 1122 Devon Ave. 847-534-5000 REY TACO
570 E. Devon Ave. 847-437-4172 Rocco Vinos
RoccoVinos.com 1085 Nerge Rd. 847-524-2411 Rocco Vinos
RoccoVinos.com 627 Meacham Rd. 847-952-1881 Rose Garden Cafe
TheRGCafe.com 111 E. Higgins Rd. 224-465-6045
Kurumaya
1201 E. Higgins Rd. 847-437-2222 Elk Grove Village 27
S Salt Creek Tavern
66 E. Devon Ave. 847-228-5212
Subway
Teddy’s Diner
Subway.com 76 Biesterfield Rd. 847-364-3644
TeddyDiner.com 1063 Rohlwing Rd. 847-357-9918
Subway
Tensuke Market
ShelbyCampbells.com 1000 Busse Rd.
Subway.com 1805 Oakton St. 847-472-9300
TensukeChicago.com 3 S. Arlington Heights Rd. 847-985-0910
847-956-1170
Subway
Thai Spoon
Subway.com 25 Arlington Heights Rd. 847-427-8560
ThaiSpoonElkGrove.com 575 Landmeier Rd. 847-437-7100
Subway
Tre Amici Pizza
Subway.com 572 E. Devon Ave. 847-593-5007
TreAmiciPizza.com 1536 Nerge Rd. 847-806-6141
Shelby Campbell’s
Spiedi’s Sports Grill
53 S. Arlington Heights Rd. 847-593-3252 Starbucks
Starbucks.com 934 Busse Rd. 847-524-1850 Starbucks
Starbucks.com 102 Biesterfield Rd. 847-258-362 Steak ‘n Shake
SteaknShake.com 675 Meacham Rd. 847-895-6351 Subway
Subway.com 6 Devon Ave. 847-759-0995
Sushi Today
SushiTodayUSA.com 552 E. Devon Ave. 847-437-9555 Sushi Today
SushiTodayUSA.com 1664 Greenleaft Ave. 847-357-9999 Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque
SBRBBQ.com 800 E. Higgins Rd. 847-985-4442
Subway
Subway.com 609 Meacham Rd. 847-301-7782 Subway
Subway.com 2801 Touhy Ave. 847-427-1006 Subway
Subway.com 1125 Nerge Rd. 847-439-6688 Subway
Subway.com 1666 Greenleaf Ave. 847-758-9443
T Taco Bell
TacoBell.com 601 Meacham Rd. 847-956-9411 Taco Bell
TacoBell.com 1400 Busse Rd. 847-534-0511 Tapalpa
V Vini’s Pizza
VinisPizza.com 39 S. Arlington Heights Rd. 847-952-1360 Viva Zapata
1662 Greenleaf Ave. 847-718-0324
W Wendy’s
Wendys.com 900 Busse Rd. 847-593-6200 White Castle
WhiteCastle.com 1800 Oakton St. 847-534-0600 W at Wyndham Garden
2550 Landmeier Rd. 847-439-5740
Tapalpa.com 770 S. Arlington Heights Rd. 847-806-1200
REST EASY AT ONE OF ELK GROVE VILLAGE'S FINE HOTELS!
28 Elk Grove Village
HUNGRY? Grab a bite. Elk Grove Village is home to numerous well-known restaurants from casual to fine dining!
Elk Grove Village 29
AN INSIDE LOOK AT ELK GROVE VILLAGE GOVERNMENT
GEOGRAPHY
Form of Government: Council-Manager; mayor and six trustees elected at large; appointed manager Incorporated: July 16, 1956 Mayor: Craig B. Johnson Village Manager: Raymond R. Rummel Village Clerk: Judith M. Keegan Trustees: Nancy J. Czarnik, Jeffrey C. Franke, Samuel L. Lissner, Patton L. Feichter, James P. Petri, Chris Prochno Village Motto: “The Exceptional Community”
10.9 square miles, 130 street miles Immediate access to I-90, I-290, I-355, I-390 Rt. 53, Rt. 72 and Rt. 83 Counties: Cook and DuPage Townships: Elk Grove, Schaumburg, Addison Charles J. Zettek Municipal Complex: 901 Wellington Ave. Water Supply: Lake Michigan Parks: Elk Grove Park District
RESIDENTS Population: 33,127 Median Family Income: $67,983 Median Home Value: $274,800 Number of Registered Voters: 20,020 Breakdown of Racial Background for Residents: White 82.9%; Asian 10.1%; Hispanic 10.3%; Other 3.4%; African-American 1.4%; Two or more races 2%; American Indian and Alaska Native 0.5%
SCHOOLS Elementary School District: 54 and 59; High School District: 211 and 214. Dist. 54: 847-357-5028 Dist. 59: 847-593-4300 Dist. 211: 847-755-6600 Dist. 214: 847-718-7600 College: Harper Community College (847) 925-6000
LABOR MARKET DATA Total Employees by Major SIC (2013) Construction (SIC 15-17)
35,182
4.20%
Manufacturing (SIC 20-39)
125,571
14.99%
Transportation and Communications (SIC 40-49)
47,803
5.71%
Wholesale Trade (SIC 50-51)
70,426
8.41%
Retail Trade (SIC 52-59)
157,496
18.80%
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (SIC 60-69)
74,209
8.86%
Services (SIC 70-89)
294,629
35.17%
Public Administration (SIC 90-98)
20,349
2.43%
30 Elk Grove Village
Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series Join us at the Village Green for a free family-friendly concert series every Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. during the month of July.
Elk Grove Village 31
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