Ream’s to move to former Papa G’s building in Elburn

ELBURN – Janelle Ream knows what it's like at Ream's Elburn Market during the holiday season – the shop can become crowded, and customers can feel rushed. She said it can be really stressful.

Soon, that situation likely will change. The Reams bought the former Papa G’s building at 250 S. Main St. in Elburn, and the award-winning meat market will move into a place where the Reams say they will have nearly twice as much space.

Janelle and Randy Ream said they have been looking to move to a larger location for several years. In January, they began to pursue the former Papa G’s location, which has been vacant for more than a year.

The Reams stood Friday morning amid the bustle of their existing location at 128 N. Main St., a few blocks north of the Papa G’s site and across the railroad tracks. The newly bought site is 7,464 square feet and 1.42 acres. The purchase price was $675,000. It was marketed by Sperry Van Ness.

“The biggest thing is size,” Janelle Ream said. “We love [our current] store, but it’s 110 years old.”

Randy Ream said the hope is for the new store to be open by Thanksgiving, but there is much work to be done. As far as what the Reams will do with the existing store building, Janelle Ream said there are no plans to sell it or the recently bought parking lot across the street, but the use of it “is not the first priority.”

The bigger location could open up some possibilities. Randy Ream said a lack of space has caused the store to cut back on some products, and that won’t be an issue at the new store. Janelle Ream talked about the possibility of perhaps one day selling beer and wine, doing more sampling and offering more food to go. There will be plenty of parking, and there will be space for events and opportunities for grilling out.

“We are very excited,” Janelle Ream said. “The customers determined that the store is too small. We are thankful for that.”

Neil Johnson, managing broker with Sperry Van Ness, said his office took the listing in October 2014. He said there were numerous showings, mostly for those with restaurant ideas. Interest for a gas station at the site also was shown. The structure was built in 1985 and expanded in 1998.

“Generally, the obstacle for potential buyers was that it was either too big or the cost of updating it would be too great,” he said.

Janelle Ream acknowledged the building “needs a lot of work” to be transformed from a restaurant into a meat market. Also, she noted it adds another business to the south side of the railroad tracks, near Bob Jass Chevrolet and Alice’s Place.

Elburn Village President Dave Anderson said the news is “exciting for the village.” Anderson, who said he worked for Randy Ream’s father in 1958, said it is a positive development that the Reams chose to head to a bigger location is Elburn, rather than move to a different town.

“I think their moving like that is a vote of confidence within the village,” Anderson said. “They are a destination, and they will remain to be. I’m excited for the community, as well as for Ream’s.”

On the Web

Visit KCChronicle.com to view a video of Janelle and Randy Ream talking about the Ream’s Elburn Market move to the former Papa G’s building in Elburn.