Gas Station Near Darien May Be In Works

DARIEN, IL – A gas station chain has bought four houses south of Darien on Lemont Road, with residents fearing a development that will disturb their neighborhood.

The four homes are just south of the Lemont National Bank branch, which is southwest of Lemont Road and 97th Street.

In October, Lenny's Gas N Wash purchased three of the houses for far more than their tax-assessed values. It bought another one in April.

The bank site is owned by a company that is connected to the bank's president, Hercules Bolos.

The bank is in a small island of Lemont jurisdiction, while the houses are in unincorporated DuPage County.

In an email, a county spokesman said the county has received no inquiries about a possible development on the properties.

Recently, residents in the nearby Pleasantdale neighborhood started a Change.org petition. As of Tuesday, it has collected nearly 300 online signatures.

Lemont National Bank has not sold its bank branch at 9700 Lemont Road to Gas N Wash. Its real estate is owned by a company connected to Hercules Bolos, the bank's president. (David Giuliani/Patch)

The petition opposes any rezoning between Interstate 55, Lemont Road, 101st Street and Woodward Avenue, an area that includes the gas station chain's properties.

The petition states that any rezoning could disrupt the neighborhood's residential character, create more traffic and hurt property values.

Gas B Wash has 30 locations in the Chicago area, including in Lemont, Homer Glen and New Lenox, according to the chain's website.

The chain did not return a message for comment Monday. Bolos, of Lemont National Bank, couldn't be reached for comment.

It is unclear whether the bank branch site may become part of the gas station development.

The branch is not fully used. Its drive-thru is open six hours a day on weekdays, while its lobby is closed to the public. A light pole is largely rusted, while a car bumper can be seen in nearby bushes.

Gas N Wash paid nearly $2 million for the houses, far over the $1.4 million in total assessed tax values.

According to county and real estate data, here are the houses that Gas N Wash bought:

• 11S240 Lemont Road, bought Oct. 18, 2024, for $450,000, with a tax-assessed value of $300,000.
• 11S260 Lemont Road, bought Oct. 11, 2024, for $427,645, with a tax-assessed value of $306,000.
• 11S276 Lemont Road, bought Oct. 11, 2024, for $400,000, with a tax-assessed value of $237,000.
• 11S286 Lemont Road, bought April 1, 2025, for $675,000, with a tax-assessed value of $546,000