Fresh Market Coming To Algonquin Commons

ALGONQUIN, IL — Fresh Market has plans to open at the Algonquin Commons as work gets underway on a massive redevelopment project to transform the shopping center.

Officials with Red Mountain Group told Patch this past week that work is underway on $90 million in improvements, which will include outdoor playgrounds, a concert venue and a 45,000-square-foot indoor cafe and entertainment area.

Fresh Market, which has four grocery stores in Illinois, including one along Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, is planning to move into several empty stores near Half-Price books at the Commons. Construction is underway at the mall, which also houses a Trader Joe's, to transform the empty stores into a grocery store.

Construction is also underway on a new Five Below at the Algonquin Commons. The discount retailer plans to open next to The Loft. A Kids Empire will bring its indoor playground, floor-to-ceiling climbing walls and a drop-in ball pit -- as well as its slides, maze, indoor building toys and riding toys -- to the Commons.

Barnes and Noble has opened at the Commons, and is located next to Trader Joe's.

Last month, the Algonquin Village Board approved a final planned development, which will allow Red Mountain Retail Group to proceed with its proposal for $90 million in upgrades shopping center at 1900 South Randall Road. Red Mountain bought the Commons in 2021 and has been fine-tuning plans to draw more tenants and turn the Commons into a destination for dining and entertainment.

The addition of a 45,000-square-foot indoor cafe and entertainment area, which under the proposal would be referred to as "The Link," would be constructed in the parking area between the two out-lot strip centers on the southern half of the Algonquin Commons, which currently houses tenants such as Bonefish Grill, Claire's and uBreakiFix.

The 45,000 square-foot roofed enclosure would contain two floors of dining and entertainment options and amenities, including a lounge space, table gaming area, creative office space, spaces to host corporate events and private parties, a stage, an exhibition kitchen area, and more than 10,000-square-feet in new leasable commercial space, according to village documents.

"The Playground," which is part of the planned upgrades, would include an almost half-acre outdoor entertainment area.

The Playground is proposed as a 0.4-acre area between the Link and the strip center immediately to the west —where Maurice's is located — and would include climbing structures for children, a koi pond, adult swing sets and shaded areas.

Under the proposal, the addition of "The Field" would bring .6 acres of green space to an area between The Link and Randall Road. This area would serve as an outdoor entertainment venue and have its own 4,500 square-foot café available for lease, according to village documents.

Live concerts, outdoor movies and sporting scrimmages could utilize the area during the summer and "a winter wonderland" would be planned for the winter months, according to the proposal.