Attention ex-Libertyvillians

I don't know how many people will find this interesting, but as a regular traveler on Milwaukee Avenue (at least when I'm back home) and a former occasional Frank's customer, I thought it'd be nice to pass this along:

A vacant eyesore along Milwaukee Avenue on Libertyville’s southern entry will be renovated, bringing a long-sought grocery store to the village.

To be known as Fresh Foods, the upscale market is proposed for the former Frank’s Nursery and Crafts building at 1600 S. Milwaukee Ave., which closed about two years ago after the chain declared bankruptcy.

Developer Dean Theo’s plan is on a fast-track review process expected to reach the village board in two weeks. The $8 million project would involve a transformation of the façade.

“It’s a wonderful design,” said John Spoden, the village’s director of community development. “It’s really a throwback to the old inner-city market buildings.”

Frank’s occupied about 37,000 square feet in combined indoor and outdoor space. The new store would enclose and expand the area to about 41,000 square feet. Typical grocery stores are about 60,000 square feet.

“This would be a sole operation at this point. It’s not part of a chain,” said Libertyville attorney Terry Weppler, who is representing Theo through the approval process. Theo did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

“They’ve been looking throughout a large area for a place they thought would be a good spot. It’s a much higher-end store,” he said.

The operation is said to concentrate on organic foods. It would include a café doubling as an event room available to local groups, Spoden said.

“The comprehensive plan talks about having a high-end grocery store in this district, so we’re delighted,” he said.

Read the full story here.