More Businesses Eager To Call Barrington Home

Barrington may be a village of less than 15,000 residents but the business community is certainly booming.

In the year 2010, nearly 40 businesses opened their doors in Barrington, and 2011 is off to a similar start.

“We started strong in 2011,” Economic and Community Development Director Peg Blanchard said at the Board of Trustees meeting June 13. “We’ve had 17 new businesses open up. We’ve had five close and we’ve had a net gain of 12.”

Two of those new businesses are women’s clothing and accessories shops that opened in the last month. Vanity Share Sell opened in May at 128 E. Main Street and Haute Botique opened at 600 Northwest Highway.

Blanchard said the number of businesses opening in town is a sign of a strong community.

“I think that’s something very positive for this community to continue to focus on the fact that we do have people interested in opening up businesses here,” she said.

The quantity and quality of retailers in Barrington is drawing more and more residents into local shops.  Shop owners report the number of residents shopping locally has grown. 

“We hear from our merchants on a monthly basis that they are seeing an increase in traffic from our residents,” Blanchard said.

Shopping locally does benefit Barrington directly. One percent of sales tax for every item purchased here goes directly to the village.

“Continue to support our community and we’ll continue to recruit businesses to meet your needs,” Blanchard said.