BATAVIA – The long-awaited opening of the new Walgreens store in downtown Batavia is expected on March 11.
The new store marks a major step ahead in the ongoing redevelopment of the downtown and will clear the way for property developer Batavia Enterprises to make further improvements.
Construction is moving forward on the 14,500-square-foot facility at 122 W. Wilson St., just a few steps east of the existing Walgreens store at 138 W. Wilson St. in the Batavia Plaza shopping center.
The new stand-alone store will come complete with a prescription drive-thru lane.
Mayor Jeff Schielke said that Walgreens will keep the existing store in operation through March 10 and then open the doors to the new store the following day.
“Needless to say, it has created a lot of interest in town,” Schielke said.
The Batavia City Council on Monday approved the transfer of the existing store’s package liquor license to the new location, requiring a $50 fee, on the recommendation of Police Chief Gary Schira.
The Walgreens has occupied its current location since 1991, after the space was vacated by a Jewel store. The Batavia Plaza, which dates to 1962, includes a variety of retail stores and restaurants, including Panera Bread, Prairie Path Cycles and Daddio’s Diner.
The construction of the new Walgreens building by Batavia Enterprises will now allow the property development firm to focus on finding a new tenant for the old space.
Paul Lencioni, owner of the Blue Goose supermarket in St. Charles, has expressed interest in the Batavia Plaza as the possible site for a second location.
First Ward Alderman Michael O’Brien, who had been a critic of the use of tax increment financing district funds to help with the Walgreens project, said that he nevertheless believes Batavia Enterprises did a good job with the construction.
“It’s a beautiful building, and they’ve done a great job with that,” O’Brien said.