Could New Oberweis Lead to Dempster's Renaissance?

Skokie's struggling West Dempster Street business area is slated to house a new concept Oberweis store later this year. The village moved closer to finalizing the construction plans during Tuesday evening's board meeting, despite some neighboring objections and uncertain financial impact.

The eatery, slated for the intersection of Dempster Street and Skokie Boulevard, will break new ground for Oberweis. Company officials said in addition to the traditional dairy treats, the venue will also feature “The Burger Joint” where grill items can be purchased.

Related: What's the Vision for Downtown Skokie?

“We are pretty excited,” said Joe Oberweis, the President and CEO of his family's eponymous company.  “We think it is a great concept that consumers as the two will mix in together.  It will be the burger joint where you can get an Oberweis milkshake.”

The store could be approved as soon as March and open as early as late summer, according to Joe Oberweis. It will be 3,800 square feet and have 38 parking spaces. There will also be a dairy-only drive-thru.

The size of the store and its design has concerned residents who neighbor the property. The owners of a neighboring apartment at 4800 Carol St. building requested a full traffic analysis by the village to study how the store will impact the busy intersection and the shared alley. Several residents raised safety concerns regarding the children who live nearby and argued that the size of the development is too large for the property.

“They are trying to fit ten ounces into an eight ounce glass,” said Dale Scheck, one of the owners of the building.

After hearing public coments, trustees expressed similar reservations and required that the building change certain aspects of the original plan.

The new plan will now require any future modifications on the drive-thru to go through a full public hearing, instead of a shortened process as had been designated by the plan commission submission. Additionally all loading will be on Oberweis property and not close to the apartment. Meanwhile further alterations could be made to the parking layout following IDOT's review of the intersection.

Scheck and his associates would not conclusively say they are opposed to the Oberweis, but they would want to see a traffic study of the area.

Peter Peyer, Skokie’s Community Development Director, countered that a full analysis of the intersection was not required as the additional cars coming into the store would not be enough to change traffic patterns.

“To say there is too much (traffic) I don’t believe that is the case,” Peyer said.

Now with the construction of the store forthcoming, residents and businesses will now see if it will serve as an economic engine for the village. The store is not expected to dramatically change Skokie’s incoming sales tax revenue. (If the Oberweis were to have $1.5 million in annual sales, that would produce $30,000 for the village. While important, that won't make much of a change in an approximate $48 million annual budget.)

However, village officials are hoping this store will be a foundation of a West Dempster Street renaissance. The east – west corridor was once a bustling area, but in recent years has been a victim of the anemic economy and is now riddled with many empty storefronts and some vacant land.

To catalyze the turn around, the village acquired what had been two small properties around 4811 Dempster St. through eminent domain, and sold them as one parcel.

“Hopefully people will see the Oberweis being successful and they can see West Dempster can come back,” said Tom Thompson, Skokie’s Economic Development Director.

How optimistic should the village be about the prospects about a West Dempster street revival?

Somewhat, but not overboard, according to one expert.

 “One store by itself is not going to turn things around,” said Suzanne Fogel, chairwoman of the DePaul University Marketing Department, who specializes in consumer behavior. “But it is better than having an empty lot. It could attract people to stop and the best outcome would be if other businesses saw there was activity there and they decided to come along as well.”

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