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New businesses coming to town
Carmaster, 9213 Parklane Ave., is in the process of expanding its business to a building that recently became vacant next door. | Mark Lawton~Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 19, 2013 1:26PM
FRANKLIN PARK — Village trustees have approved zoning changes that will allow four businesses to move to Franklin Park and another to expand.
Among the businesses are two chains and three automobile-related businesses.
Bodgan Owsiak, who started Carmaster at 9213 Parklane Ave. 12 years ago, decided to take advantage of a building next door to his becoming vacant.
“The other property is like double the space,” Owsiak said.
Cal Settecase, owner of Cal’s Autobody, will move his seven-year-old business from Schiller Park to 9804 Franklin Ave.
“There’s more visibility to customers,” Settecase said. “It’s a better location and better shop. Where I’m at now, the landlord doesn’t want to spend any money to update it. It’s bigger too.”
Settecase hopes to move by Feb. 1.
Advance Auto and Body Repair plans to move to a space at 9890 Franklin Ave.
John Schneider, economic development director for the village of Franklin Park, said a decrease in the number of tool and dye operations in Franklin Park may be working to the advantage of auto businesses.
“There are some buildings that used to be tool and dye facilities,” Schneider said. “Many of those businesses have died off. There are industries that have figured out that those buildings work well for them; auto repair, auto body.”
In addition to automobile businesses, two chains are looking to move into Franklin Park. Dotty’s Country Café would like to move into 10215 W. Grand Ave. The company has applied to the village for a liquor license. The company has 150 locations, mostly on the west coast. It started in South Dakota 20 years ago, owner Daniel Fischer said.
The Franklin Park location is part of a larger expansion, which will include new locations in Melrose Park, Elk Grove Village and Hoffman Estates.
Savers, which sells second hand items for nonprofits, plans to move into part of the former K-mart building at 10205 Grand Ave.
To attract new businesses, the village government offers a list of all vacant properties, Schneider said. Filling empty buildings is a double win for the village.
“Something that is paying vacancy tax — being taxes at the lowest possible level, these will now be fully taxes,” Schneider said. “It will also create jobs.”
