Restaurant, upscale residential units planned for former bank in downtown St. Charles

ST. CHARLES – A developer has plans to put a restaurant and upscale residential units in the former BMO Harris Bank building in downtown St. Charles.

Curt Hurst is in the process of purchasing the building, located at 1 E. Main near the Fox River. Hurst and his son, Conrad, own Frontier Development, which has been involved in several projects in downtown St. Charles.

"We think it's an iconic piece of real estate within the city of St. Charles that's greatly underutilized as a bank building," Curt Hurst said.

Last year, Frontier Development purchased the Arcada building. The historic building first opened its doors in 1926 and attracted such performers as George Burns and Gracie Allen. Frontier Development also owns the building that houses Flagship on the Fox sports bar and Pollyanna Brewing Company.

As proposed, an automated teller machine will be installed in the bank's parking lot. Plans are to continue to use the property as a parking lot.

At their meeting Tuesday, plan commissioners recommended approval of the ATM as a special use. Plans are to fill the building's first floor with a restaurant.

"A restaurant would probably be the highest and best use (for the space)," he said. "There are just some spectacular views in there. When you're sitting in that restaurant, you'll have the best views of any restaurant in the western suburbs. It's going to be really spectacular. It's going to complement all of the other great restaurants that are in town."

Discussions with potential restaurant operators are going on right now.

"We'll go public with that when everything is through the planning stages," Curt Hurst said. "That could be another 60 to 90 days from now."

Upscale rental units are planned for the building's second floor. He admitted the current COVID-19 pandemic has presented its share of challenges, but is optimistic that things will get better.

"Everybody is pretty optimistic that it's temporary," he said.