Thorntons opens new location in McHenry

A new Thorntons gas station opened Friday along Route 120 behind the Riverside Chocolate Factory at Chapel Hill Road.

The store and pump-and-go station is Thorntons’ first in McHenry and third opening this year. A location also opened Oct. 22 off Route 31 in Crystal Lake.

The McHenry City Council approved a $1 million incentive deal for the developer behind the $15 million gas station and retail complex in April 2019, the Northwest Herald reported.

Under the agreement, the city of McHenry will rebate sales taxes for the development up to $1 million over the course of the 20-year term. In exchange, the developer was required to pay upfront costs to extend the city’s water main in the area, put $20,000 toward a new McHenry gateway sign and pay $100,000 for parking improvements at Riverside Chocolate Factory, according to previous Northwest Herald reports.

To mark the opening of the location and the company’s 50th anniversary, the first 100 customers will receive a 50th anniversary commemorative coloring book with coupons valued up to $10 in savings, including a free doughnut, roller grill item and fountain beverage, according to a news release. Thorntons also is donating $2,500 to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, bringing its contributions to the nonprofit to $7,500 and more than 50,000 pounds of food this year.

The Thorntons location will offer self-checkout; freshly made burritos and sandwiches prepared throughout the day in the store’s on-site kitchen; and a variety of “top-of-the-line beverages,” including bean-to-cup coffee and fountain beverages with nugget ice, Thorntons said.

The site also will feature a rear diesel island with limited overnight truck parking.