Ross Dress for Less Eyes Chestnut Court Location

Two storefronts in the Chestnut Court shopping center on 75^th Street are set to merge, becoming the home for a new clothing store in Darien. 

Ross Dress for Less is expected to sign a lease within the next 30 days for a 25,000 square-foot space in the mall, said Inland Real Estate Vice President Jeff Howard at Monday’s City Council meeting.

The discount retailer will move into spaces previously occupied by Loyola Medical Center and , which is consolidating with Party City in Downers Grove.

Ross is expected to bring in about $9 million in sales annually, Howard said.

While Chestnut Court has historically struggled to maintain tenants, Howard said recent additions including , and Tuesday Morning are helping to bolster its performance.

“Critical mass is important,” he said. “As we bring more tenants in, the better it gets.” 

Construction on the spaces will likely begin sometime within the next three months in anticipation of an early fall opening, Howard said.

City Council approved a zoning variation Monday that will allow Inland to replace two existing freestanding 22.5-foot tall signs at Chestnut Court with signs that are 25-feet tall.

With the addition of Ross, the old signs don’t have enough room to accommodate all of Chestnut Court’s tenants, Howard said at a Jan. 11 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

City Administrator Bryon Vana said Monday that the city expedited the zoning variation in order to help secure a lease with Ross. 

Ross sells brand name and designer clothes and home accessories for 20 to 60 percent off retail prices, according to its website. The chain said it brought in $7.9 billion in revenue nationally during 2010. 

The Darien location will be among the second wave of Ross stores to open in the Chicago area. This past fall Ross launched 12 area stores, including sites in Bolingbrook, Naperville and Bloomingdale. An is also slated to open soon.