Shorewood's Greatest Development Ever? Dr. Chow's 'The District' Will Break Ground Near Towne Center

SHOREWOOD, IL — Joliet and Plainfield have their share of building and construction projects taking place, but the heart of thearea's development continues to be around Shorewood.

Joliet Patch has learned that less than a year after opening his brand new Rusty Ridge Animal Center along Route 52, Dr. Joe Chow has bigger plans in store. He's almost ready to break ground on the first of as many as 12 buildings that are set to change the dynamics of Shorewood particularly around the Towne Center area off Wynstone Boulevard.

Village of Shorewood economic development director Natalie Engel said that Dr. Chow's development is called The District and the concept calls for about a dozen new buildings that will be built on the 9-acre parcel Dr. Chow owns surrounding his new animal clinic on the north side of West Jefferson Street/Route 52 at the northwest corner of Wynstone.

The first building will be two stories, and it's intended to be a family-style, sit-down restaurant and gathering place. The building will overlook Shorewood's large pond at the Towne Center.

"This is just proposed as a concept plan to have an idea to start marketing the site," Engel explained of the first restaurant building rendering for The District.

She said that Dr. Chow's development may remind people of the Naperville Crossings concept at Route 59 and 95th Street or the Seven Bridges commercial corridor area in Woodridge, however, "we won't have movie theaters here."

Engel said the current plans for The District call for 12 commercial buildings. According to the layout, building No. 12 will be built first, the two-story sit-down restaurant, probably in the spring.

"In reality, we are hoping Building 12 will be built next year," Engel told Joliet Patch's editor last week.

The hope for Shorewood officials is that Dr. Chow's project helps the village create the downtown and Main Street feel and atmosphere that many people in the community have wanted to see happen. The open land surrounding the Village Hall at the Towne Center has always been viewed as the ideal location for that vision to materialize, Engel explained.

"It will be nice to have a dedicated standalone restaurant near the pond," she remarked.

Build Out May Take 5 Years Or Longer

Historically, Shorewood has lacked having available second-generation restaurant space so the village is hopeful that Dr. Chow's development can change that history.

Engel said that Dr. Chow has yet to finalize the selection of his sit-down restaurant tenant for The District. She said the addition of having an outdoor patio and second-level deck overlooking the pond will be a great addition for Shorewood.

"Their motivation is to get this done next year," she said of Building 12.

The overall build-out may take at least five years, if not longer, according to Engel.

"But I don't think it will be vacant for years and years either," she remarked.

As far as the other commercial buildings are concerned, Engel said she envisions the uses could include coffee shops, hair salons, medical clinics and hopefully more restaurant dining.

"Obviously any retail, we would be really interested in," she explained. "For our top priority, we would love to see restaurants especially family restaurants where people can go to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries or other special occasions. I don't see this as being an office complex or all industrial either."