WOODSTOCK – A Casey's General Store and self-storage business soon will open on the corner of Routes 14 and 47 in Woodstock.
Steve Schwartz, with Pearl Street Commercial LLC, plans to build the 4,400-square-foot Casey’s General Store building on the south lot of the former Farm and Fleet property. He also plans to open a 500- to 600-unit self-storage facility in the 90,000-square-foot building next door, after completing facade improvements, according to city documents.
Schwartz plans to market the vacant lot on the corner of the property to retail and restaurant outlets.
Woodstock City Council members recently granted Schwartz a special use permit for the planned unit development with a preliminary plat approval in order to allow work to begin. Casey’s typically take about four months to construct, according to city documents.
Schwartz proposed the idea to the City Council in 2016, but members expressed trepidation about the plan.
At the time, council member Mike Turner and Mayor Brian Sager questioned whether a gas station was the best business to go at the city’s main south entryway. Others expressed environmental concerns.
This time around, council members largely seemed supportive of the plan.
“I appreciate the investment in this corner,” council member Mark Saladin said. “I like the concept of having this lot available for another use. I know that Casey’s [in Crystal Lake] appears to be a clean, well-run store. I know there are a lot of people that love that station.”
Turner said he hopes Schwartz will be able to attract a higher-end business to build on the spare lot.
“I like the lot, and I hope it's something creative, but that is up to you guys,” he said. “It’s a very prime traffic way, so something upscale would be nice if you could lure them in.”
Casey's General Store originated in Des Moines, Iowa, and operates 1,963 stores throughout the nation.