Could Popular Grocery Store Open In Oswego?

OSWEGO, IL — A new, unnamed grocery store is looking to open at the corner of Route 34 and Kendall Point Drive, village documents show.

The applicant, Benderson Development, LLC, applied to build a grocery store and proposed retail and a restaurant in two buildings on a vacant 5-acre section of the Steeplechase at Churchill Club development. The developer did not name any users in its application.

"Unfortunately, that is all the information we have at this time," Assistant Village Administrator Jean Bueche told Patch.

Benderson Development is often linked with building Trader Joe's, according to a report from WSPY News. The Florida-based real estate company also works with Walgreens and local chains such as Publix and Fred Meyer, its portfolio shows.

"In half a dozen news reports across multiple states reviewed by WSPY, Benderson Development LLC. has filed development plans with local governments for an unnamed grocery store that was later announced to be a Trader Joe’s," the news outlet reported.

Trader Joe's told Patch they do not yet have "a location confirmed in Oswego."

"We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year," Nakia Rohde, public relations manager for the popular grocery store chain, wrote in a statement, adding, "We list all of the stores that are opening soon on our website."

The grocery store would sit on 12,500 square feet of space on the northeast corner of the site, while the 10,000 square foot "proposed retail/restaurant" would be on the western side. The applicant indicated the space may be used for a restaurant, spanning 6,667 square feet, and a bank, of 3,333 square feet, according to a memo submitted to the Village Board by Assistant Development Services Director Rachel Riemenschneider.

The applicant is proposing 214 parking spaces for the site, with a maximum of 100 spots for the grocery store, 107 for the restaurant and 13 for the bank.

The development would have three points of access: a western full access from Route 43, a southern full access from Kendall Point Drive, and a northern right-in only from Kendall Point Drive.

The Oswego Village Board is set to vote on the final planned unit development at its regular meeting Feb. 18. Staff recommends the Village Board approve the site plan, according to Riemenschneider.