Downtown Elmhurst's Hurdle In Luring National Chains

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst consultant creating a plan for downtown says he has heard from many residents who want more national chains in the city's core.

But consultant Nik Davis said this week that Elmhurst faces one major challenge to achieve that goal – Oak Brook.

Oak Brook already has plenty of retailers in its mall and other shopping districts.

Because of that, Davis said, it is harder for Elmhurst to get national chains downtown. The towns are in the same "regional competition zone," he said.

"That means you have to be a little bit more creative, you have to look at different options for commercial retail and service uses," Davis told the City Council. "It's not an end. It's just something you need to be more considerate of."

One of the positives about Elmhurst's downtown these days is it has far fewer vacancies than it did in 2016, he said. That was the last time his firm, Houseal Lavigne, drafted a downtown plan for Elmhurst.

The firm hopes to complete a new plan by year's end. It has held "listening sessions" with the public.