Near the southwest corner of Deerfield Parkway and Milwaukee Avenue, a McDonald’s franchise recently went out of business.
And a new developer wants to rebuild on that site with another burger joint.
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But Ricky Silverman, vice president of MJK Real Estate Holding Company, LLC in Deerfield, is certain that his “burger joint” — he declined to offer a name, saying that is about three weeks away — and the combination of retail he can bring in to surround it will succeed where the mighty Golden Arches tumbled.
“It’s shocking to me, also,” Silverman said of the former McDonald’s at 20914 N. Milwaukee Ave. that was demolished in 2015. “But we can fill the holes in the market, with the tenants that we’re working with.”
Silverman’s plan involves buying both the former McDonald’s property and its northern neighbor — the restaurant PJ’s — from Peter Theodoropoulos, who owns both parcels, and having them annexed into Buffalo Grove, which records show already borders the unincorporated properties.
He said he will tear the PJ’s building down once weather permits demolition — likely in early March — and break ground at the start of April for two new, modern retail buildings. Silverman said he wants one to be 6,000 square feet, with a drive-through window, and the other to be 4,500 square feet.
He said he presently has commitments from the “burger joint,” “a sandwich place” and “a coffee chain.” How many tenants he would have on the 1.5-acre site, and what they would offer, is still “a moving target,” Silverman said.
“If a mattress store called me and said ‘I want 4,000 square feet,’ I’d have no problem giving it to them,” he said.
The 25-year-old PJ’s restaurant has four co-owners. Theodoropoulos’ sister-in-law, 72-year-old Maureen Patouhas, is one of them. She said all four are aging out of the food-service business and found in Silverman’s offer a good exit strategy.
“We’re all way up there, and it’s time, and the kids aren’t interested,” Patouhas said.
Chris Stilling, Buffalo Grove’s community director development, said Silverman’s plans currently call for 75 parking spaces —which would be enough for two restaurants. Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire and Riverwoods all have ideas for maximizing the untapped value of this intersection, where the three communities and unincorporated Lake County all meet.
“It’s always been on the village’s mind to look at the development potential of Milwaukee Avenue,” Stilling said. “This is the first of many steps.”
Both he and Silverman said this project, if completed and eventually successful, could become a step toward the construction of Barenesa Plaza. That development, much larger and years in the discussion stage, could occupy both the northwest and southwest corners of Milwaukee and Deerfield.
In discussions with possible Barenesa Plaza developers last summer, Village Board members called that intersection their gateway, and the most important pieces of untouched land in Buffalo Grove.
Stilling added that Buffalo Grove officials did not hear anything from Berenesa Plaza’s prospective developers after their meeting last summer, but they have scheduled a get-together for this month.
“We want to hear exactly what is going on,” Stilling said.
Progress on Silverman’s idea could move more expediently, though. Silverman said he has a contract with Theodoropoulos to purchase the two parcels. Buffalo Grove’s Village Board took its first look at his plans on Jan. 4, and sent them to the planning and zoning commission for a recommendation.
Twitter: @RonnieAtPioneer