Dunkin' Donuts could be part of proposed $1.5M Marengo shopping center

MARENGO – A Dunkin’ Donuts could be part of a $1.5 million shopping center proposed off Grant Highway in Marengo.

Vipul and Sam Patel own two properties at 20009 E. Grant Highway in Marengo and want to build a 8,000-square-foot shopping center at the site. The site would include an existing businesses, Marengo Community Pharmacy, a liquor store and a Dunkin’ Donuts.

In a memo to the City Council, City Administrator Gary Boden said the House of Bottles would be moving from just outside city limits into the space at the proposed shopping center. House of Bottles owner Bhapundra Patel said Wednesday that his store wasn't moving. His son, Sam Patel, said a new liquor store would be taking up the space between Dunkin' Donuts and the pharmacy in the proposed shopping center. The source of the confusion wasn't immediately clear.

The developers also want an outlot where they could build a hotel or apartment complex in the future.

The liquor store wants to hold beer and wine tastings and have video gambling machines at the site.

Marengo Community Pharmacy currently is located at 308 State St., at the corner of State Street and Grant Highway.

The development site is in Marengo’s eastern tax increment financing district, and the developers want the city to contribute $400,000 toward the project. They have $1.1 million in financing for the rest, they said.

“We are pretty excited about this project,” said Corey Brackmann, spokesman for the project who also is with Marengo-based Brackmann Construction Co. Inc. “We are looking for a little assistance with the TIF. This fits the perfect mold. It has plenty of owner investment. It’s all infrastructure related. … It would help the land around it. It looks to be the perfect TIF-type project.”

The TIF funding would be allowed by law because the developers plan to use the funds for public infrastructure such as sewer and water line extensions. They also want to build a turn lane on Route 20, although the Illinois Department of Transportation has yet to weigh in on design requirements, so projected costs are estimates now.

Council members largely were supportive of the project at Monday’s meeting, with only a few qualms related to the video gambling terminals. Marengo council members have voiced concerns multiple times in the past about the allowance of too many liquor and gambling establishments in Marengo.

Third Ward Alderman Matt Keenum said that he was against video gambling at packaged liquor stores, and wanted to make sure new liquor store didn’t want to tack on the pour license just for the gaming privilege.

He said that there were some liquor stores that had upper-scale, regular tastings that he wouldn’t mind seeing in Marengo.

“I wouldn’t say I would vote against it,” Keenum said. “I recognize the nuances.”

The majority of council members said they wanted to move forward.

“I am in favor of this,” 1st Ward Alderman Michael Miller said. “I would like to see something go out there. As far as the video gambling, I am not opposed to it at that location.”