Glenview’s Colonial Court Building to Become High-End Retail Hub with $1.34M Renovation

A 1960s medical office building along Glenview Road is getting a new lease on life as a high-end retail destination, thanks to a $1.34 million renovation that village leaders hope will breathe new energy into a sluggish stretch of downtown.

Colonial Court at 1775 Glenview Road will soon welcome Edie Boutique and Marigold Gift Shop on its first floor, transforming the former medical office space into a shopping draw for women, teens, and gift-seekers alike.

The project is spearheaded by Joseph Carey of Avalon Realty Associates, LLC, who announced the plans Wednesday from the building site. “We are revitalizing the front end with high-end retail shops that should open before Valentine’s Day,”

Carey said on Aug. 5, 2026.Village backs project with $200,000 in incentivesLast month, Glenview trustees approved a $200,000 forgivable loan and a facade grant for the 1962 building, with funding drawn from the Village of Glenview Permanent Fund—proceeds from the 1995 sale of the former Naval Air Station.

Officials say the investment is aimed at eliminating what they describe as a local "dead zone" for foot traffic along Glenview Road.David Just, Director of Community Engagement and Communication, framed the project as part of a larger revival effort.

“Downtown's historic role as the village's commercial 'heart' has eroded over the years, but its historic configuration and the will of the community to strengthen the district will create opportunities to improve downtown's standing as a central activity hub within the village,” Just said on the village’s website.

A ‘candy shop’ for women—and a Valentine’s stop for menBehind both stores is longtime local entrepreneur Amy DeGrazio, a Maine South High School graduate and Park Ridge resident.

Her Edie Boutique—a regional women’s clothing and accessory chain founded in 2015—will anchor the new retail space. DeGrazio describes it as a “candy shop” for women, offering clothing for women and teens alongside jewelry, handbags, and other accessories.

About half of the merchandise will come from her own accessory manufacturing company.And for North Shore men? DeGrazio says the timing is deliberate: “North shore men will know where to shop for Valentine’s Day.”Marigold Gift Shop, also owned by DeGrazio, will bring its curated mix of jewelry, specialty gifts, and home decor to Glenview.

The boutique already has established locations in Park Ridge, Libertyville, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Destination retail on the horizonDeGrazio sees the project as part of a broader retail renaissance, drawing a comparison to Naperville’s bustling downtown.“I think the more retail in town, the better for the town,” she said. “In Naperville, there’s every store you can possibly think of, and all the stores do well because it becomes a destination.

With all the new restaurants, you can spend a whole or half-day here.”The redevelopment aligns with the village board’s 2021 adoption of the Economic Development Plan and Downtown Strategic Plan, which prioritize strengthening downtown as a central activity hub. With a Valentine’s Day opening target, Glenview shoppers won’t have to wait long to see the transformation take shape.