Tim Landis
The State Journal-Register
A round of national retail cutbacks in the Springfield market now includes WALGREENS. The Deerfield-based drugstore chain will close the location at 1155 N. Ninth St. on Feb. 21.
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Walgreens, Kmart, Staples, McDonald’s and Smashburger all have had closings or closing announcements in the last few weeks, beginning with the mid-December shutdown of Kmart on Wabash Avenue.
Smashburger, at Chatham Road and Iles Avenue, closed Jan. 11. The Staples store in Sherwood Plaza is scheduled to close Feb. 11, and the McDonald’s at 1825 S. MacArthur Blvd. will shut down Jan. 31.
Loss of national retailer locations often reflect wider cutbacks, as in the case of Kmart and Smashburger. The Staples closing, according to the company, results from the continued shift to online shopping, while McDonald explained the MacArthur Boulevard closing was part of a normal assessment of individual locations.
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It could be a long shot, but the MACARTHUR BOULEVARD MCDONALD’S apparently won’t go without a fight. Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, whose ward includes the restaurant, and members of the MacArthur Boulevard Association are working to convince the corporation the site remains viable. McDonald’s is based in the Chicago suburb of Oakbrook.
According to the recent closing announcement, McDonald’s owns the building and site, while the local franchisee owns the equipment and other operations. The MacArthur Boulevard location opened in 1961.
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Add BINNY’S BEVERAGE DEPOT to the list of tenant possibilities for a renovated Sherwood Plaza shopping center on Wabash Avenue. The business was mentioned by a representative of center owner Sertiage Growth Properties last week as the city council approved the large-scale development plan for the project.
A Binny’s spokeswoman said last week the Chicago-based chain plans a Springfield store, but that a location has not been finalized. Burlington Coat Factory and Outback Steakhouse are among other tenants planned, according to Seritage.
Binny’s operates 35 wine, beer and spirits stores, primarily in the Chicago market, according to the company website, binnys.com. There also are stores in Champaign and Bloomington.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 