February 2, 2017 -
Structural repairs were completed by the property owner in mid-January and the property was turned over to the tenant, Fresh Thyme, to complete the interior and exterior work. It is anticipated that this work will take several months and that Fresh Thyme will open in late summer, 2017.
October 7, 2016 -
Work is underway on site and the contractor will be installing a fence around certain construction areas to ensure public safety. These fences may impede the use of the sidewalks on the east and north sides of the building and may impede some traffic flow in the 1500 block of Monroe. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation. Any obstructions will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.
September 16, 2016 -
This week, the Village of River Forest issued a building permit for structural repair work at the former Dominick’s building located at 7501 W. North Avenue. The building will be undergoing major renovations in the upcoming weeks and months in order to open its doors to the public in 2017. Repairs include foundation modifications along the north and east sides of the building, reconstruction of the east and south walls of the building, removal and replacement of existing steel framing on the west side of the building and strengthening of the north wall of the building. Repairs to the existing bowstring roof trusses as well as the roof stringers along the south side of the building will also be performed. Additional repairs and modifications to the second-floor framing and flooring along the south and east sides of the building will be implemented. Architectural, mechanical and electrical improvements will also be performed.
History of the project-
In the fall of 2015, the Village approved plans to begin construction of a Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market grocery store at the old Dominick’s site on North Avenue. This project has been delayed due to unforeseen structural issues on the property. In order to remedy these issues, Fresh Thyme has turned the site back over to the property agent, Mid-America Asset Management. At this time, Mid-America is working closely with Village staff to complete the necessary repairs in a timely manner. The Village has also filed a suit in the circuit court to ensure the work is completed.
On July 12 a court order was entered that establishes deadlines for the completion of the work. Based on this court order, the repairs will be completed on or before December 31, 2016. A court hearing will be conducted in mid-August to update the judge on the status of the project.
Once the structural repairs are completed the store will be turned over to Fresh Thyme to complete the remaining work. It is anticipated that some exterior work will be completed before the winter to improve the appearance of the site. It is also anticipated that Fresh Thyme would be able to complete the remaining work in the third quarter of 2017.
The Village will continue to take measures to guarantee that this work will be completed in a safe and proper fashion. As always, the Village will strive to ensure that all work is done in a manner that is least disruptive to the community. All parties involved with this project are looking forward to making great progress in the coming months and to establish an estimated opening date for Fresh Thyme