6 months after breaking ground: Gateway to La Salle is well on its way to June opening

About six months after they first were given the keys, the Gateway to La Salle project developers have made progress as they continue working toward opening the multiple retail space location in portions this summer.

The project, led by local businessmen Gary Hammers, Nick Hammers and Jeremy Reed, is located on the corner of U.S 6 and Bucklin Street in the heart of downtown La Salle.

Developers had a plan to repurpose two buildings on the property while maintaining as much of the original structure as possible, a plan they have continued.

“I would say it was not great working conditions, but overall I think I’m still pretty happy how well we’ve persevered to get through things in spite of the weather,” Reed said. “The weather was not helpful for us but we fought through it.”

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The Gateway to La Salle project is taking shape on the southwest corner of Bucklin and U.S. 6 in La Salle. Owners (from left) Nick Hammers, Jeremy Reed and Gary Hammers pose for a photo inside the former gas station. They are renovating the corner into a restaurant, indoor/outdoor retail and green space, apartments, among other spaces. The lights in the diner came from the gymnasium of the Troy Grove school. (Scott Anderson)

Between the old gas station that has been fitted to eventually house a restaurant and the old stables that will house three retail spaces and a public restroom, will be a large green area for visitors to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with friends and family.

The group also has completed demolition of two other buildings on the property. This space is planned to be used for parking for the project.

Since they began in December, the old gas station has been upgraded to house a restaurant once a tenant has been decided upon.

“We have a couple of tenants that are very close to renting this space out here,” Reed said. “It may be rented before we know it but that will be a nice missing piece once we officially get that settled.”

The building itself has been upgraded with a kitchen and a long service-style bar while keeping with the look of a traditional diner.

New garage-type doors of glass have been installed in the front of the building that will allow the owners to open them, when the weather allows, for patrons to enjoy dining in either indoor or outdoor dining rooms. A heated floor system has been installed to help keep diners warm, in the building to help keep the doors open as long into the cooler seasons as possible. The restaurant will have access to a drive-thru window to serve customers on the go.

The developers have refurbished old lights from a gym in Troy Grove in order to create the lighting for the repurposed space.

“They were really dented all up from basketballs and dodgeballs but we scraped them all out and cleaned them all up,” Gary said. “Then we retrofitted them with LED lights rather than the great big bulbs.”

Outside the building passersby now can begin to see a stone-style boundary that will surround parts of the astroturf green area. Outside of the boundary will include areas that will be landscaped as well as a space to display the engraved bricks purchased by community members.

This green space will include a concrete heated patio as well as be equipped with outdoor activities and spaces for visitors to sit and enjoy a meal. The area will be able to serve many purposes for everyday and for special occasions. The space can be cleared for concerts, parties or events that may arise in the future.

Much of the focus for the project has gone toward getting the retail spaces in the old stables across the green space ready for tenants.

The three retail spaces have been filled and will include access to the parking lot and the communal restroom within the building.

In December, much of this building was unpaved and equipped with dirt floors as the developers have moved to get these spaces ready as quickly as possible. While some of the spaces look far from complete, with some drywall, they are almost ready for tenants.

The tenants will include the bar Nick’s on 6, a commissary commercial kitchen entitled Launch Kitchen and a wine bar that’s name is still under consideration.

Nick’s on 6 will have an outdoor patio area toward the green space and will be equipped with an indoor bar with beer on tap. The business is planned to include a room for video gambling as well.

Launch Kitchen will allow members of the community to have access to a commercial kitchen for private events, cooking classes, among other items.

Above the retail spaces the developers have begun work on creating living/AirBnB spaces to allow visitors to stay in downtown La Salle. These spaces were originally equipped with an open layout and an upstairs loft.

The upstairs rooms will have balconies installed that will enable visitors to be able to view out over the green space.

“The plan is a single two-bedroom and then three one-and-a-half with a loft,” Reed said. “The balconies will also extend so people can go out and look over the courtyard.”

The entire project continues to be a work in progress that soon will become a more complete picture as retail locations begin to open.

Nick’s on 6 is hopeful to have a soft opening by June and Launch Kitchen is hoping for a July 1 opening.

The restaurant could be completed once a tenant is selected as much of the groundwork has been completed.