Whole Foods!

A 10 screen movie complex.

A fabric store!

Trader Joe's and Binny's

sams club, gordon foods, deals $1-$5 store

Trader Joe's or a movie theater

An indoor sports complex such as "Players" in Naperville

Movie theater,Trader Joes, or children's museum

Costco

Some kind of baby store, such as Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby! Aren't there enough young families in Oswego??

Sams Club or JoAnn

Costco

Good column idea! I'd go with JoAnn, Costco, or (selfishly - LOL) move Target down there and turn it into Super Target so I can stop driving to Yorkville. ; )

I miss Lowe's. : ( I've had to go to the Naperville store several times lately for supplies that I can't get at HD or Menards.

How about a bookstore, for the first time EVER! Talk about a long drive, try finding a bookstore! My son would say we need an arcade with laser tag.

Would LOVE a Whole Foods or Trader Joes!!!

I'd like SAMs Club or Costco.

Hobby Lobby

Sam's Club or Costco

TRADER JOES!!!!

Barnes and Noble or Hobby Lobby

Trader Joe's!

Woodman's!!!

Costco, definately.

Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Woodman's.

The structure itself is too large for most (Sam's and Costco would be fine) of what is being suggested here. The developer needs to look at how to redesign the space so that a Trader Joes, Binney's or some smaller niche retailer can move right in. For example, Ross was a nice fit into the old CC building and it flows well with the other clothing retailers.

Barnes and Noble look at specific demographics and I wonder if Oswego even meets what they look for.

Costco

Mariano's grocery store is planning on opening 20 stores this year. This could be a spectacular addition.

Steven, your lack of respect for Menards on Rte. 34 baffles me. Even if Lowes didn't LEAVE us-Menards was and still is the clear winner in the DIY store battle.

Fry's would be an EXCELLENT choice to take over the vacant building. Tons of tax revenue for our fine city. Trader Joe's would be another great choice.

I really don't think we should have another food store. The current food stores have trouble staying in business as it is. If I won the lottery I would love to build a Bowling And Activities Center for families and teens at the old Alexander Lumber location. I think this would help the restaurants and other businesses in the downtown area. Just a thought!!!

I love the B&N in Plainfield and it's maybe a 15 minute drive. If that. I can't see another B&N coming in so close. Especially when book retailers are struggling as it is. B&N also draws heavily from the Aurora/Naperville area and their demographics are very strong. I have a few friends living in White Eagle and they have been hanging out at B&N with their kiddos for years now.

I agree with the poster who said the large space is too big for smaller places like Trader Joe's, etc. If it were substantially redesigned, that might be an option. I do think you'll see something "discount-minded" as Katra sort of referenced. It's what the majority of the area is offering, and is attractive to the vast majority of the surrounding communities. I don't think we'll see Whole Foods that close to Walmart and Meijer.

Much like retailers looked at demographics that were probably larger than just Plainfield for the B&N location, I would imagine people will examine the surrounding area including Montgomery, Aurora, etc., when they look at the former Lowe's location. It's closer to Montgomery than is to some Oswego addresses.

Excellent idea Jan! The Lumber albatross has been vacant so long I almost forgot about it. This has been an entertaining little post, Steven. Can you also post the same idea for the Lumber Building? I'm curious what other people would do with THAT space, seeing as how the BIG Housing plans apparently failed...

I would like to see Costco in that space (preferred to Sam's due to quality) - it may be too close to Rte 59 though.

Down the road, I would like to see a bookstore in one of the vacancies, unless Lowe's could be divided. With over 17K kids in our growing school district, and families constantly accessing our community - I think we can support it.

We need a large capacity banquet facility, and this is a perfect opportunity. For as much complaining as I've heard that Oswego doesn't have one, there sure are a lot of missed opportunities here to put the vote in for one!

Nothing. To much on that street already.....How about something come over to my side of town.......like the far west side on Orchard Rd. I hate having to drive over to the other side of town(34) just to shop I have spent way to much at Wal-Mart( (Montgomery) last year since it is right in my face over here. Oh and I would shop Jewel on Orchard and 34 but come on do they think that there prices are really that good. Oh well I will see nothing done on Orchard for maybe 10 years since we are the step kids of Oswego. But we support the town in thier tax base...Ha ha

How about a bookstore? Numerous surveys have been done over the years by the various economic development agenices in Oswego and a bookstore is always high on the list. For some reason they've never been able to attract a bookstore.

Costco or Sams Club for sure!

I would love to see a crate and barrel

Costco or Sam's Club for sure!

Binny's, Trader Joe's or Costco!

How about a large furniture store? Where is the closest one now?

Trader Joes!

You know those local bike trails where we all love to walk our dogs in good weather. I'd love to see something like that indoors and the old Lowe's build is big enough to carry it. Build trails maze style with bushes and trees (and a skylight for them to grow). There could be agility style obstacles - either alongside for interest or in the center for a different sort of exercise - water features, a regular style track ringing the outer edge for runners w/dogs. Lockers for people to leave their personal items while walking. Have professional breeders and trainers to come in and give lecturs/demonstrations about different breeds and specialty working dogs. Many people would give their dogs more regular exercise if they didn't have to face snow, ice, wind rain or heat; they would keep coming in fair weather then because it has become a familiar routine or many other reasons.

A *real* bookstore - say, a Barnes and Noble !
Just like Naperville does

How about in Alexander Lumber we re-do it slightly for the village, and have the village run an ice skating rink in it - proceeds go to lowering taxes and paying for the employees. win-win.

Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble.

Barnes and Noble or other bookstore (is there another major one still?) or Trader Joe's. We don't need another grocery or discount store, as we are saturated with these. I do miss Lowe's though, especially the paint and the customer service.

A one-stop shop for dogs, including an indoor dog park, walking/jogging track, grooming, agility & obedience classes, boutique items, baked goods, dog-sitting, and exercise/health options for the humans, too. There aren't gyms that offer pet-sitting services, but they have kid-sitters. May be a thought.

Sam's Club without a doubt ! It makes sense because of the proximity of Walmart next door ~ as most Sam's Clubs have. I would much rather give my $300 a month to an Oswego Sam's than Batavia !

Children's museum, please!

Trader joe's!

What about an alternative medicine facility? That way. several practices can share expenses and the community receives a better tax revenue. Should the medical marijuana use bill finally pass, as it eventually will..it could become a dispensary and grow center.
Or...since legalized medical marijuana would cut into the organized crime's pockets, and gosh, no politician wants to do that., maybe the place could become a brewery or distillery and cater to socially acceptable alcohol related medical problems? That way, instead of reaping a huge tax revenue and helping patients that get no relief from pharmaceuticals, we can give a subsidy and pass that expense onto the taxpayer..you know, business as usual.

Mr. Harrison, nice to know your views on these topics, also nice to know your wife is the treasurer of Hunt Club Home and School, working with our kids and handling the H&S money.

A movie theatre would be the BEST idea!! We have been asking for one for Years in Oswego. It would be great for our community.

There is a movie theather on Rt 30-what a half mile away-- Sam's Club or Costco for sure!!

Coco or Sams

How about a Brunswick Zone, bowling alley and arcade fun center for families, big hit in Naperville and Carol Stream.

I'd love to see a Sam's Club in the Lowe's spot! If we could also get a Bath and Body Works, I'd then have no reason to leave Oswego to shop at all!! Keep tax dollars here instead of other cities.

I work in Oakbrook and I can tell you this, next to the Oakbrook Mall, the biggest revenue maker for that village is Costco; to the tune of around 2-3 million a year. That Costco on 22nd St. is the largest generator in the Chicago area. It would be great for Oswego if we could. What works against us? Only 12 miles or less to the one on 59. The empty Lowe's space is pretty huge, so Trader Joes is a no go unless they sub-divide the space. Whole foods? Doubt that too. Too close to Naperville. Sam's or Costco would be nice if they could be convinced and if the Village doesn't give the store away with a 10-13 year TIFF.

I don't see any many businesses with a location on Rt 59 putting in an Oswego location until the area is more built up and they aren't cannibalizing the existing store. The truth is that we do make the 15-20 minute trip to Rt 59, we just do it less frequently and they know that.