The Village of Orland Park announced on Saturday, January 3, 2025, the agenda for an upcoming Plan Commission meeting which includes a proposed commercial retail development at the southwest corner of 159th Street and LaGrange Road, the long-vacant site of the former Petey’s II restaurant.
The proposal underscores the strength of Orland Park’s market and its appeal to globally recognized companies, according to the Village of Orland Park. The press release indicated that interest from Amazon, one of the top five retailers in the world, reflects confidence in the community, its infrastructure, and its long-term economic outlook.
“When a global retailer of this scale is considering investment in Orland Park, it sends a strong signal about the vitality of our community and the strategic importance of this corridor. It demonstrates that Orland Park continues to be viewed as a premier destination for major commercial investment.”
— Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
Agenda materials outline a concept plan to redevelop the approximately 35-acre property with a one-story commercial building of roughly 229,000 square feet, primarily retail in nature, with a limited warehouse component supporting on-site operations. The proposal also includes multiple future commercial outlots and is entirely commercial, representing a significant potential investment in one of Orland Park’s most visible and heavily traveled corridors.
The typical Amazon Fresh grocery store is about 40,000 to 50,000 square feet.
The proposal is subject to public review and approval, and the commercial nature of the project aligns with long-standing goals for the intersection and surrounding area, according to the Village of Orland Park.
“This is a prime location, and we are encouraged to see it being considered for full commercial redevelopment,” said Jim Dodge. “Projects like this have the potential to generate substantial sales tax revenue that directly benefits residents while strengthening one of our most important corridors.”
According to information included with the Plan Commission agenda, the proposed development would function as a large-format retail location offering a wide range of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with accessory services and potential prepared-food options. The limited warehouse component would support on-site operations rather than serve as a large-scale distribution center.
The description sounds similar to an Amazon Fresh grocery store, but as in other Amazon Fresh store locations, such as Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove, the identity and the brand name of the stores are not initially disclosed during early development. Similar to other Amazon Fresh stores, the Arlington Heights store offers convenient self-checkout via high-tech shopping carts that involve the ability to search product locations in the store, weigh produce, scan products, and proceed via non-stop bypass past the traditional grocery store register. Shoppers can also use a hand basket for self-checkout at one of several self-checkout registers, or can check out at a traditional grocery store register. Shoppers can also shop online and pickup their items, or shop online and order items to be delivered from the store to their homes. Amazon Prime members have added conveniences, but shoppers are not required to have any type of Amazon membership. Cash is accepted only at the traditional grocery store checkout lanes.
“This type of investment supports not only our local economy but also well-paying jobs during construction and beyond,” Dodge said.
Officials emphasized that a key benefit of the proposal is the significant sales tax revenue it could generate for Orland Park, providing long-term financial support for municipal services and capital improvements without introducing residential density into an already busy commercial corridor.
As part of the Village’s ongoing planning for the 159th Street and LaGrange Road area, officials continue to evaluate the extension of Ravinia Avenue south to 161st Street, which would create a direct connection to LaGrange Road and improve circulation throughout the corridor. Village officials said projected sales tax revenue from the proposed commercial development would more than cover the costs associated with the Ravinia Avenue expansion, creating both fiscal and infrastructure benefits for the community.
Traffic flow, access management, and circulation studies have been conducted and will continue as part of the Village’s review process. The concept plan includes separate access points for retail customers and delivery vehicles, designed to improve safety and efficiency while reducing congestion at the intersection. Extending Ravinia Avenue could ultimately divert a significant portion of eastbound and northbound turning traffic away from 159th Street and LaGrange Road.
The proposal is part of broader, ongoing investment and planning activity at the 159th Street and LaGrange Road intersection, which has seen increased developer interest and infrastructure improvements in recent years.
“This is about smart commercial growth that pays for itself, improves traffic movement, and positions this corridor for long-term success,” Dodge said. “Our focus remains on what is best for Orland Park and the community we serve.”
The Plan Commission will review the proposal as part of the Village’s standard public process. Any future consideration by the Village Board would take place at a publicly noticed meeting.
For more information and Village meeting dates/agendas, visit orlandpark.org.
The new Amazon Fresh format is a combination of in-store and online shopping, offering consumers a variety of products at lower price points than Whole Foods. Whole Foods was acquired by Amazon for $13.7 billion in 2017, and is known for its focus on organic goods and doesn’t sell products with artificial ingredients. The Amazon Fresh grocery store is apparently a high-tech version of a grocery store categorized somewhere between a standard full-service grocery store and a Whole Foods Market store. Amazon Fresh stores carry 365 by Whole Foods Market products and some other Whole Foods Market products, but products found in traditional grocery stores that aren’t found in Whole Foods Market store are available at Amazon Fresh.
Amazon Go Grocery is an automated convenience store format that is about 10,000 square feet. Amazon Go Grocery is a much smaller format than the Amazon Fresh store format, which is over 40,000 square feet. You need an Amazon account to shop at an Amazon Go Grocery store. You don’t need an Amazon account to shop at an Amazon Fresh store.
The Arlington Heights Amazon Fresh store was developed in the second largest retail space at Town & Country Center. The space is 50,041 square feet and only slightly smaller than the retail space for Dick’s Sporting Goods, according to a document published on the website of Visconsi Companies, Ltd., which manages Town & Country Center. As of Friday, November 6, 2020, the Visconsi Companies website lists the former Dominick’s space as “available.”
According to a CNBC report, Amazon Fresh stores are designed to balance the needs of shoppers who order online and shoppers who still prefer to shop in person. There’s a dedicated section at the Amazon Fresh store where customers can pick up products sold on amazon.com or grocery orders that have been placed online. Amazon customers can also return their Amazon packages for free.
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