The Apex 400 apartment complex, located on Main Street in downtown Glen Ellyn, has been open for over two years but no retailers have taken advantage of the 9,000 square foot commercial space available within the building. The development’s long history is a story in itself, which is now beginning a new chapter.
According to Haley Holtz, an administrative intern for the Village of Glen Ellyn, a roughly 5,000 square foot steakhouse will be opening within the first floor of the building. MK | STK + Bar plans to open in the spring of 2025 with the project being led by John Kutrubus and Joe Marino according to the restaurant’s Instagram page. She writes in an email that “their building permits are in the second round of review,” a process that can take a total of six to twelve months to complete.
At one point, the complex did have a retailer, ZZA BABY, which had a sign posted in the window of the building advertising the grand opening. Unfortunately, the pizza restaurant never opened despite claims on their website that the location was planned to open in the winter of 2023.
Haley Holtz explained that the project fell through after an owner stepped away. Though it was not specified who the owner was, Ric Gruber is the current CEO for ZZA BABY and Billy Bricks restaurants, another popular pizza chain in the area. He and ZZA BABY were reached out to but no response was received.
Under the new leadership of Jennifer Henaghan, the Department of Community Development in Glen Ellyn, which mandates plans and approves all projects related to businesses and amenities of the village, has been actively working to find a retailer for the remaining space. She was unavailable to contact directly regarding this topic. Other further future developments other than the Apex 400, such as new businesses along Roosevelt Road and other apartment building projects, will be handled by her and her department’s staff.
The Village and Department work to ensure an “engaged community” and the completion of new projects, but the lack of retailers adds to the complicated building’s controversial existence that has spanned several years. Ever since the demolition of Giesche Shoe Store in 2019, the former business on the site, there has been backlash from residents and groups such as SAVE MAIN, a local organization that opposed the construction of Apex 400.
In 2023, construction issues within the building’s multi-story parking structure were reported by Walker Consultants, an architecture firm, highlighting noticeable damage to the concrete beams of the foundation as well as water damage. These problems were deemed not dangerous to the overall structure and were later repaired, but this still sparked disapproval.
Despite the mentioned criticisms, Apex 400 has become a hub for housing within the downtown area. Based on the available number of apartment listings, the building is close to full capacity, with only seven of their total 107 apartments still being listed as vacant. Apex 400 is the first of many apartment complexes in Glen Ellyn, with Avere on Duane and the developing Glenwood Station (both near the Glen Ellyn Public Library) also following the housing trend. This implementation of new residential spaces could allow for an increase in population on top of new opportunities for retailers.
Although in a prime location, this retail space in the complex has been empty for a large amount of time due to many possible factors. First, leases can be costly with the smallest available space of 1,650 square feet costing $59,400 per year. Spaces are currently unfinished (pictured above) so construction costs are not included with the leasing fees. Also mentioned earlier, permits, contractors, and workers all take a long period of time to be implemented before construction can begin. This may discourage new or smaller businesses from investing in the spaces. Second, Glen Ellyn has high property taxes with a 2.38% property tax, compared to the 0.99% national average and Illinois average of 2.35% according to Ownwell. Glen Ellyn also has a 1.5% tax rate on immediately served food and beverage. Third, Apex 400 recently changed ownership earlier this year. Originally owned by the Missner Group and sold to Ryan Companies, this action could have halted the approval process for new retailers.
Downtown Glen Ellyn features more than 265,000 square feet of retail space, and is home to over 100 businesses. The addition of new retailers to the Apex 400 apartment complex could mark a turning point for the building’s growth and future, as well as the economic development of the village as a whole. The community will have to wait and see.
Edit: Paragraph 2 and photo caption was edited to include the name of the MK | STK + Bar after door signs were updated.
