Money Magazine named Glen Ellyn in its 2011 list of the top 100 American Small Towns. In the immediate market area, households have a level of affluence, are well-educated, well-employed and like to travel. Many residents are civic minded and enjoy volunteering in the community. In fact, Glen Ellyn is known as the Village of Volunteers.
Glen Ellyn is business-friendly with municipal process improvements in place like reduced plan review times, the elimination of final engineering reviews prior to zoning approvals and a fast-tracking option. The streamlined process means more efficiency for opening new businesses and redeveloping commercial properties in Glen Ellyn. The Glen Ellyn Economic Development Corporation serves as the entry portal, resource center and facilitator for businesses, brokers and developers. The Glen Ellyn EDC maintains a list of available commercial properties and opportunity sites for redevelopment identified by the Village, and can facilitate dialogue with property owners and the Village. The Village of Glen Ellyn provides business assistance grants for retail build-outs in the downtown and commercial façade improvements in all business districts.
Just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago and bisected by one of Chicago’s busiest commuter train routes and the Illinois Prairie Path, Glen Ellyn’s historic downtown offers a strong cluster of unique boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants in an inviting pedestrian-friendly setting. With more than 100 shops and 265,000 square feet of storefront inventory, downtown Glen Ellyn offers a solid density of existing businesses and prime retail space for new business activity. Strong support from the Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance of Downtown Glen Ellyn creates an ongoing schedule of events and attractions which regularly draws diners and shoppers. The Village approved a new TIF District for the downtown in early 2012 to facilitate implementation of the Downtown Strategic Plan, serving as the roadmap to an even brighter future.
Offering excellent visibility, easy regional access and high traffic counts, Glen Ellyn’s Roosevelt Road corridor attracts significant commercial investment. Three grocery-anchored shopping centers, smaller strip centers, and a diversity of quick serve and dine-in restaurants cater to auto-oriented convenience, as about 45,000 vehicles pass through daily. Retail and service uses total 715,000 square feet, including over 53,000 square feet added through redevelopment in 2007. Office buildings and two larger office complexes add 580,000 square feet to the commercial inventory.
North of the downtown, Stacy’s Corners is the site of the Village’s original commerce center. Stacy’s Corners today is still a strategic location at the crossroads for Geneva Road, St. Charles Road and Main Street Glen Ellyn. While commercial inventory is on a smaller scale, the crossroads aspect and proximity to north side residents has attracted Walgreens, DQ, and 7 Eleven, all of which take advantage of the 20,000 vehicles which pass through this area daily. The Village of Glen Ellyn owns several parcels on three quadrants of the crossroads and will be looking to engage redevelopment activity in the future.
Glen Ellyn Economic Development Contact Information:
Village of Glen Ellyn Economic Development
535 Duane Street
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
p: 630.547-5345
F: 630-469-8849
Facts and Figures
Slogan:
The Jewel of the Western Suburbs
Population:
27,450
Number of Households:
10,577
Median Household Income:
$90,820
Per Capita Income:
$49,850
Median Household Cost:
$433,200