Bolingbrook Promenade Grows Chicago’s Retail
Bolingbrook’s shopping, dining and entertainment options ripen with the completion of Forest City Enterprises’ The Promenade Bolingbrook.
Amy Bigley

Forest City Enterprises has recently opened The Promenade Bolingbrook, a 1.1 million-square-foot destination retail center in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Sprouting from a vacant soybean field at the intersection of Boughton Road and Interstate 355 in Bolingbrook, Illinois, Forest City Enterprises’ The Promenade Bolingbrook is positioned to become a shopping, dining and entertainment destination in the greater Chicago area.

“The bottom line is that we began doing some demographic studies — looking at the [area’s] population, composition and retail competition — and it appeared that this area was a hole in the doughnut in terms of retail real estate,” says Jerry Ferstman, vice president and project developer at Forest City Commercial Development.

The Promenade Bolingbrook, which celebrated its grand opening last month, is a 1.1 million-square-foot destination lifestyle center that is projected to generate $300 million annually in new retail sales tax for the Bolingbrook area.

“There’s retail around the site but the distance between our site and the other retail is far enough that it affords us the opportunity to develop a retail project that does not really cannibalize any of the other projects in the general area,” Ferstman explains.

The center boasts many retailers with huge market penetration, including the second IKEA in the greater Chicago area; a Macy’s, the first in the area in 10 years; the second Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in the Chicago area; and an H&M department store. During the company’s negotiations for a Marshall Field’s store, Federated acquired the May Company, which brought a Macy’s to the project. The development also features a variety of junior anchors, restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as a plan for at least two hotels on site.

Located near the intersection of Interstates 335 and 55, The Promenade Bolingbrook is projected to generate $300 million annually in new retail sales tax for the Bolingbrook, Illinois, area.

Currently there are more than 40 signed tenants including American Eagle Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Ann Taylor Loft, Brookstone, Champs Sports, Delia’s, Foot Locker, Gymboree, Hallmark, Jos. A. Bank, Forever 21, Coach, Kay Jewelers, Lens Crafters, Limited Too, Mrs. Fields, PacSun, The Walking Company, Ulta, Victoria’s Secret, Yankee Candle, Zales, Stride Rite and Sunglass Hut. Restaurants for the development include Bar Louie, BD’s Mongolian Barbeque, Go Roma Italian Kitchen, Gordon Biersch, Great Steak & Potato Company, Johnny Rockets, Salad Creations, Ted’s Montana Grill, Starbucks Coffee and Woodlands.

The projected $75 million development, which has become a collaborative effort between the Village of Bolingbrook and Forest City, evokes a contemporary prairie design that fits into its Midwest backdrop. Designed by Cleveland-based KA Inc., Ferstman describes the center as eclectic, with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired and prairie-style design elements mixed with a contemporary architectural style.

By creating a heavily landscaped center with a pedestrian-friendly design, Forest City is looking to develop a community gathering place for the Bolingbrook market.

The Promenade Bolingbrook, which opened in April, offers more than 50 retailers and restaurants, including IKEA, Ann Taylor Loft, Brookstone, Ted’s Montana Grill, Salad Creations and Johnny Rockets.

“Right now, [residents] have strip centers and power centers that they can visit; [The Promenade Bolingbrook] will celebrate events and holidays, and encourage people to come and shop and socialize and enjoy dining,” Ferstman notes. “It becomes a place that people want keep — not just to shop — but to enjoy.”

With a 425,000- to 450,000-square-foot final phase expected to open in 2008, The Promenade Bolingbrook will near 2 million square feet. The project aims to provide a broad range of retail choices for the area’s residents, as well as becoming a community destination.

“One of the things that is so unique [about the project] is the intimacy that it exudes,” Ferstman says. “It’s comfortable in terms of size and its walkability; it’s very pedestrian friendly.”

The Promenade’s location, near the intersection of Interstates 355 and 55, gives the project great accessibility throughout the market. Additionally, Ferstman notes that the extension of I-355 to Interstate 80, which is expected to open this fall, will make the development even more accessible.

“[The Promenade Bolingbrook] is a real shopping node and there are not very many [like it] of this magnitude in the area,” Ferstman says.


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