Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
MoneyThursday, November 9, 2006 4:51 PM CST
Comments Comments (12) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Eateries added to Centre mix
By Scott Miller
scottmiller@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

NORMAL — A $41.5 million, 76-acre development in north Normal gained two restaurants but lost another theater chain, the developer announced at a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday.

A 14-screen Carmike Cinemas is no longer part of the plans at the proposed Constitution Trail Centre at Raab Road and Main Street, said Darren Hicks, a principal of DKC Development Ventures.

A theater company will locate there within the next three years, however, said Hicks, who would not disclose the name until contracts are signed. St. Louis-based Wehrenberg Inc. previously yanked its plans for a theater there to build in west Bloomington instead.

Meanwhile, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Moe’s Southwest Grill joined the list of committed tenants at the development.

They join Schnucks Marketplace, a 78-room AmericInn hotel, LongHorn Steakhouse, Fashion Bug, The Fitness Store and Dollar Tree.

It will be Applebee’s second Twin City restaurant and Moe’s first venture in Illinois.

Moe’s franchise owners Ken Solem and Lincoln-native Gary Sparks moved to the Twin Cities this year from Virginia just to open this restaurant. It should open next fall, serving a variety of Tex-Mex food, such as burritos, fajitas and tacos.

They call it a “fast-casual” restaurant with entrees ranging from $5 to $7. The Georgia-based chain has more than 300 locations throughout the United States, the closest being in Indiana, Solem said.

“Our plan is to have a couple in the area, but we need to get the first one opened first,” Solem said. “We’re looking at Bloomington, Champaign, possibly Peoria.”

The committed tenants are part of the first phase of development opening next year, led by a mid-July opening of Schnucks, Hicks said. That phase also includes unnamed retailers, restaurants, a bank and a gas station. In all, the first phase will include about 30 businesses.

Other tenants will be announced in the next six months, he said.

A second construction phase would finish in about three years and potentially include a theater and a big-box store. The big-box store, Hicks added, could be broken up into smaller retailers.

After about seven years of negotiations and ownership changes, developers broke ground Wednesday to the delight of town officials.

“It brings services to an area that is growing. This is really going to make this area come alive,” said Normal Mayor Chris Koos.

Several developers have filed plans for the project over the last seven years, eventually leading to DKC, a joint venture with Dial Properties of Nebraska, Clary Development Corporation of Arkansas and Coral Ridge Companies of Michigan.

That group purchased the land for $6.8 million from Bloomington-Normal Ventures.

Centre tenants

Here’s what is on tap for the Constitution Trail Centre under development at Raab Road and Main Street in Normal:

  • Schnucks Marketplace, the anchor, will open in mid-July along Raab Road. At about 58,000 square feet, it will be smaller than the 72,000-square-foot Schnucks on East Empire Street in Bloomington but should offer the same services.


  • A 78-room AmericInn hotel with pool and waterslides will open along Main Street.


  • LongHorn Steakhouse, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Moe’s Southwest Grill should open next fall also.

  • Fashion Bug, The Fitness Store and Dollar Tree also should open next year.


  • The first phase, which should be finished late next year, also includes several unnamed retailers, restaurants, a bank and a gas station. In all, the first phase will include about 30 businesses.


  • An unnamed movie theater and big-box retailer should open later, within the next three years. The big-box store could be broken into smaller retailers.


    • SOURCES: DKC Development Ventures, Darren Hicks, a DKC principal, and Ray Warren, Schnucks division manager for Central Illinois.

    Compiled by Scott Miller

    Take a look
    Heavy earth moving equipment leveled ground Wednesday during a groundbreaking to mark the beginning of construction on Constitution Trail Centre at Main Street and Raab Road in Normal. (Pantagraph/David Proeber)
    Video
    Most commented stories
    Community calendar
    Browse online archives
    Recent issues:
    Reader comments on this story - 12 total

    Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

    Moes wrote on Nov 12, 2006 12:19 PM:

    " Moes is really good we missed having one after moving to Illinois from North Carolina. "WELCOME TO MOES!" is what they say right when you walk into the door. "

    yo wrote on Nov 10, 2006 11:27 PM:

    " Congrats to Bloomington-Normal Ventures THE ONLY WINNER!!!! "

    sickofgasstations wrote on Nov 10, 2006 11:28 AM:

    " There is actually 5 gas stations there already "

    Happy Shopper wrote on Nov 9, 2006 2:45 PM:

    " Getting a quality store like Schnucks on that side of town is something to look forward to! Can't wait for the Fashion Bug so we don't have to drive to Peoria or Pontiac! "

    Too much gas! wrote on Nov 9, 2006 2:43 PM:

    " why do we need another gas station in that area? there are already four there now???? "

    Golffan wrote on Nov 9, 2006 2:37 PM:

    " For the person who had to ask: "Moe's" is a lot like most of the Mexican restaurants you see featured in all those antacid commercials. "

    moe's wrote on Nov 9, 2006 11:56 AM:

    " for the person that asked, moe's is like a qdoba or a baha fresh...fast, yet good southwest/mexican fare "

    bill wrote on Nov 9, 2006 10:00 AM:

    " Wow, another dollar store! Boy o boy, I can't wait. We sure do need more of those!! (ugh) "

    To Welcome To Moes! wrote on Nov 9, 2006 9:01 AM:

    " Is Moes more like a taco bell or a sit down restaurant such as Chilis? "

    Pave the planet!! wrote on Nov 9, 2006 8:56 AM:

    " I hope we figure out how to get a thousand bushel of corn per acre in the next 100 years. Otherwise where will the worlds food be grown? Urban sprawl will pave all the farmland! "

    Welcome To Moes! wrote on Nov 9, 2006 8:52 AM:

    " Moes is going to be great! We missed not having one after moving here this summer. "

    Win some, lose some wrote on Nov 9, 2006 7:00 AM:

    " I'm happy about the Schnucks and the theater (when one comes), but another Applebees? Ugh. "
    Add your own comments

    Please read the rules before posting comments.

    You must be logged in to leave comments.
    If you don't have a member ID, please register.

    *Member ID:
    *Password:
    Remember login?
    (requires cookies)
      Forgot Your Password?
     
    Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
    Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy