Today's McDonald's Could Be Tomorrow's Amazon

OAK BROOK, IL - The site that's been home to an industry giant for nearly half a century could soon be the home to another. Officials in Oak Brook are excited about the possibility that Amazon could use the same land McDonald's has for 45 years as their second American headquarters. The current McDonald's Plaza site is one of 10 locations in Illinois that is being considered by Amazon.

"It's perfect timing," Oak Brook Village President Gopal Lalmalani said. "When McDonald's leaves, there will be 150 acres and they would not even have to build anything."

The McDonald's site that includes four buildings including a Hyatt hotel has passed what Lalmalani said was the "only round of cuts" before Amazon makes a selection.

"We have a strong bid," Lalmalani said. "Of all the sites in Illinois, Oak Brook has the best fit for Amazon."

After all none of the eight sites in Chicago, nor the bid from Schaumburg, can boast that it has been home to a worldwide leader like Oak Brook can.

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"Everyone wants them, and other states like New Jersey have offered lucrative deals but our main incentive is that there are no taxes," Lalmalani said.

"The property is in excellent condition, centrally located, close to highways, O'Hare and Midway and acres of greenspace."

McDonald's announced earlier this year that its headquarters will leave Oak Brook in 2018 for a location in Chicago's Fulton Market. A number of organizations have expressed interest in the location right off Interstate 88, Interstate 294 and Route 83, but Amazon is "the best fit," Lalmalani said.

Valentina Tomov, president and CEO of the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Partnership, said Oak Brook's years as a leading corporate hub gives it an edge of many of the 238 bids Amazon is considering nationally.

"Excellent geographic location and access, the ability to recruit talent from the city and from multiple suburban markets, as well as the unsurpassed amenities, green spaces, and quality of life here—all of these factors make Oak Brook’s bid competitive,” Tomov said.

The "safety and tranquility" factor also favors Oak Brook, Lalmalani said.

"We are a very upbeat community," he added. "It's a secure location near excellent housing and top schools."

Wherever Amazon eventually decides to have as its "HQ2," along with it will come 50,000 jobs.

"I can't think of one negative," Lalmalani said. "It will be a win-win."

Image: Amazon logo / Google Maps