McHENRY – Big R found a home in McHenry with customers who will enjoy its products geared toward farmers and outdoor enthusiasts, the CEO said as the company prepares to enter the northwest suburbs for the first time.
CEO Jerry Gibbs soon will learn whether Big R will succeed in McHenry. The regional retailer on Thursday opens its 18th store in Illinois and Indiana at the McHenry Plaza Shopping Center, occupying an anchor spot that big-box retailer Target left nearly nine months ago.
The 95,420-square-foot store, 1860 N. Richmond Road, features wide aisles and various goods such as women and men's apparel, lawn and gardening tools, hunting and fishing equipment, and even pet supplies. Gibbs and other Big R employees provided community leaders with a walk-through of the new location Tuesday.
"We have unique items that customers are not going to be able to find anywhere else," Gibbs said. "We like to brag, too, because we think our prices are very, very competitive. People can come in, check out the prices and maybe save a buck."
Started in 1964 with a store in downstate Watseka, Big R since has opened locations in central Illinois and northern Indiana, according to its website. Likened to Blain's Farm and Fleet, Big R reached the Chicago suburbs earlier this year when it opened a location in southwest suburban Homer Glen.
The newest store in McHenry makes for an excellent fit, Gibbs said. With rural areas and various state parks throughout the McHenry area, the city's demographics made the decision to expand to McHenry easy, he said.
Big R spent the last nine weeks primarily renovating the interior of the former Target, which closed in February. Big R will employ 40 people at the store.
After walking down the store aisles Tuesday, Mayor Sue Low said the store looked phenomenal.
"When you walk in the door, it's amazing to think in 10 months that it turned around from one business to another," she said. "It's a beautiful store. I think our residents will enjoy it."