Jun
10
Lemon Tree Q and A
Several readers posted questions concerning the Lemon Tree Grocery, the much-anticipated downtown market that, in conjunction with a Michael’s Fresh Market at Lemont Road and 75th Street, is poised for council approval on June 16.
Greg Bedalov, president of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corp. , provided some answers.
Opening date: If the planets align perfectly, Lemon Tree would like to open August 1, although a more realistic estimate is early fall. Still, great news for all those downtown dwellers and commuters looking for a convenient place to shop. Sister (brother?) store Michael’s has a targeted opening date of mid October.
Parking: There will be no need to “replace” parking spaces in the vicinity of the Acadia on the Green building 3, where the Lemon Tree will be located because all 20 spaces are new to the downtown. However, the village will work with the grocery, condo residents and close-by businesses to ensure that all interests are accomodated.
While none of the entities are likely to have reserved spaces, parking can be limited to 30 or 45 minutes.
Pick up and delivery: Lemon Tree will offer customers both options by phone, fax or email.
On a separate downtown concern, Bedalov said there has been no change in the village’s policy regarding outdoor cafe seating.
Maybe predicted bad weather was to blame for the lack of seating in recent days? At any rate, I noticed outdoor service at Rocca’s, Capri, Berto’s and the new Toscana’s Italian restaurant at 5001 Main St. on a recent pass through downtown.
Downtown Downers needs shoppers and a grocery store will do little to bring in shoppers from outside the downtown area. Several grocery stores have failed in downtown DG and I fear that this one will also.
Figure out a way to improve traffic flow, bring in some meaningful brand name retail, and maybe our downtown area may succeed. Certainly, it will not if store owners continue to barely breakeven from year to year.
Good luck Lemon Tree.
Consider all the new residential communities that have popped up in the last 5 years. That wil have a positive impact on the proposed grocery store for sure. I tend to have the glass half full approach on this and hope Downtown will have a positive impact. From what I saw last night at the car show I have never seen so many stroling the streets.
oops sorry for the spekking error. My keyboard is ultra sensative. EJ can you correct thhat word and change it to popped instead of what is written? A little levity here.
wow! I keep doing it! Where is the edit button?
A grocery store is better than yet another Italian food establishment. How about some Asian food or a Burhop’s sort of place. Every Day’s a Sundae was full Sunday.
I hate to disagree with downtown business owner, but as someone who drive to Western Springs to go meat shopping at Casey’s Meat Market and baked goods shopping at Kirshbaum’s Bakery, I would be very willing to try the Lemon Tree.
Parking in Western Springs, particularly on a Saturday, is horrible. It’s not uncommon for me to drive around the block 5, 6, even 7 times before finding a parking place. On the other hand, Lemon Tree will be a reasonable walk from the parking garage.
ckfred……..I hope you are right, but I hear that retail business in downtown Western Springs in not very good. Robin’s Egg Blue had been in Hinsdale for years, moved to downtown Western Springs and had to close because of lack of shoppers. If you really stop an think about it, parking is no great shakes in downtown DG now. The Lemon Tree will soon find that out. But, I am prepared to bet you a prune danish that our downtown bakery is better than Kirshbaum’s.
Even if Lemon Tree makes a good Meat Market type showing of items, I could never give up Kirshbaum’s..they still tie everything up with string.
You can’t even compare Busy Bee to Kirschbaum’s.
I will continue to drive to Webers Bakery on Harlem in Chicago ! Low sales tax for food too. And a Bobak run every now and then too !
downtown business owner,
Buzy Bee is good. Kirschbaum’s is better. And you can hold the prune danish. I would rather have a cream cheese sweet roll.
I will admit that it’s hard for a new business to make it in Western Springs. Unlike Hinsdale, which is full of specialty shops, it’s more basic stores that do well. Kirschbaum’s has been there for more than 45 years. The True Value has been there since the early 60s. Casey’s has been there nearly 30 years.
Even the Competitive Foot, the sneaker store, has been there since the mid 70s. Even back then, kids were going there to get their Chuck Taylors.
I thought Weber Bakery was on Archer….oh the pound cake eggs!!!!! Restaurants seem to do well in WS Tanya Hart’s Bistro, Vie …..have done well. They have a very small downtown with the tracks running thru the center and most residents shop in Hinsdale or Oak Brook- WS likes to keep a low profile….Kirschbaums beats the Bee Danish for Danish..brownie for brownie…
My mistake, Webers is on Archer east of Harlem. I exit I-55 at IL-171. Their website specials are worth the trip.
Kirschbaums is OK but get there early because they do sell out of stuff.
The Bee makes due if I don’t feel like driving.
Luckily, as with pizza, we’re spoiled with many choices for different tastes.
Does anyone know what deli brands they carry? It would be nice if they carried Boar’s Head.
The Deli meat will either be Boars Head or Dietz and Watson… we find that both brands are of the finest quality. At the Lemon Tree we hope to create a brand that is sought after from our community to the next. We are your neighbors.
Tim C.
Agree you cant go wrong with Casey’s…but if you havent tried the dry-aged steaks from Jim’s meats (on Cass in Darien), you are missing out on the best steak you will ever taste!
Welcome Tim! The general vibe is-HURRY UP WE CAN’T WAIT!
Tim-
Boar’s Head? A fine brand to be sure, but with Sara Lee as your new neighbor, not to mention a major contributor to our tax base here in town, I would consider carrying Hillshire Farm meats as well.
Fences make great neighbors, but I doubt you can build one high enough to obscure the view from high above Lacey Road.
Meat on meat. Gotta love it.
Kirschbaum’s without question but the Bee does fine.
And I love the idea of a grocery store in town again, where I can go when I am walking to the library, or for coffee or a hair-do.