The Bottom Line: West Racine fills former grocery, other vacancy

Sunday, January 21, 2007 2:12 AM CST

Finally, we have a double dose of good news in West Racine. The little, three-block shopping district has endured setback after setback in the past few years.

But now the district can look forward to some renewed retail vigor - although not a grocery store to replace the long-gone Piggly Wiggly. That wish has officially died with the sale of the former grocery store to a shoe store that so far remains nameless.

Karen Sorenson, representative of the Heritage Group, which sold the building, said she only gave up on her hope for a grocery store at the 11th hour, 59th minute. "I tried till the very end," she said. "I was still making calls in December," as the shoe store purchase closing neared.

However, at this point many West Racinians won't kick about having a shoe store instead of an empty building. "I really wanted retail for the area," Sorensen said, adding that she had turned away potential buyers who had other uses in mind.

Alderman Jim Spangenberg, owner of Johnson's Home Furnishings, was also pleased. "We're just thrilled to get two storefronts filled," he said. "And with retail."

Sorenson is keeping mum because the shoe store does not want to be identified yet. But she said it's a company with stores across the country and a name people will recognize. It must be a size 12 1/2 shoe seller, because that's a lot of space to fill with footwear.

We're supposed to see some action at the building within 60 days.

The other West Racine newcomer will be Red Bell - which is actually a wayward son returning home. Red Bell, which sells educational materials and toys for preschoolers, was started on the north side about 30 years ago. It moved into West Racine, then hopped over to Elmwood Plaza, its current site.

Co-owner Dave Rosenthal said he and his wife, Linda, are making the move "because West Racine has a lot of unique shops that a lot of our clientele patronize."

The move will happen quickly. The owners plan to end their stay at Elmwood Plaza after business this Friday, move on Saturday and reopen next Sunday at 3201 Washington Ave., the new spot.

That will require a bit of shuffling. The current resident store is Upper 90, the soccer store. It will move across the street into the remaining space formerly held by Clementi's Gifts, 3210 Washington Ave.

With that move, the only vacant first-floor retail space left in West Racine will be the small back area behind Red Bell, noted Sorenson. She'd love to talk to you if you're looking for 800 square feet with a side entrance.

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Lastly on the topic of West Racine, there's still the matter of that empty 3100 block awaiting redevelopment. City and West Racine officials recently rebuffed a lackluster proposal and went back out for new ideas.

But city officials lately have been talking to two or three potential developers for that site, so hopes are rising again of finding a good one.

Problems at the Plaza

West Racine's recapture of the Red Bell is Elmwood Plaza's loss, and the old plaza hasn't been looking very healthy of late. Its recent heyday began after Lamar Co. of Morristown, N.J., bought it for $2.9 million in spring 2000. Lamar said it poured about $2 million into new lighting, signage and other investments, including making a home for the new Racine Produce.

Within three years, Lamar sold the 320,000-square-foot Plaza to Argent Real Estate of Chicago for $6 million. Argent did welcome one major new tenant, World Gym. In fall 2005 Argest sold the center for $8.9 million to Imperial Management of Chicago.

But things have not gone very well there in the past couple of years. Signficant tenants - including Jalensky's, Hancock Fabrics and Floortech - have left. A payday loan place occupies a prominent corner spot.

Now the Red Bell tolls for the Plaza as well.

Local hamburger history

For a last glimpse of a bit of McDonald's history, take a gander at the one at 2100 Lathrop Ave. At 8 a.m. Monday, the wreckers will be waiting to take down a restaurant that, in its present form, actually can boast of being a relic of the corporation's earliest days.

"This was the seventh one Ray Kroc ever opened," said David Jones, supervisor for 2100 Lathrop Inc., which owns the seven Racine area McDonald's restaurants. It was also Wisconsin's first McDonald's, he said.

McDonald's restaurant No. 1 is now a corporate museum, Jones said. Nos. 2-6 have all been torn down and rebuilt. So this local restaurant, which turns 50 years old in May, was the last of its breed still acting as a restaurant, until it closed last Sunday night for the reconstruction.

When it opened, a hamburger, french fries or shake each cost 15 cents, Jones said. "I think a cheeseburger was 17 cents," he added. "And that's all they sold."

The corporation is gradually upgrading and modernizing its fleet of eateries, in joint ventures with the owners, Jones explained.

The new restaurant to take shape there will have a new look and be a little larger and more efficient, Jones said.

The new children's play room will be just the third of its kind. The new games are designed to get children moving; for example, there will be a chin-up bar, dance pad and two videogames that the child can play only by riding a bicycle.

Because of the upcoming 50th anniversary, Jones said the goal is to rapidly rebuild the restaurant in time for that date. "We're trying to put it up in 91 days - in the winter," he remarked.

Attention, tinkerers!

Pssst! Hey buddy, want to buy a nice hardware store?

If you have entrepreneurial blood in your veins, and if you know the difference between a grommet and a vice-grip, heads up. Some lucky soul will be handed the keys to a hardware store valued at $1 million in a contest Ace Hardware is running. Of course, it's all an elaborate promotion, but it is a huge opportunity for whoever wins.

The promotion comes Monday, Jan. 29, at National Ace Hardware, 1303 N. Fourth St., Milwaukee. From noon to 3 p.m., Ace will have Lou Manfredini, the "helpful hardware man," on hand, and people can learn about the contest.

Easier yet is to enter the contest by starting at the company Web site, http://www.dreamacehardware.com.

Don't delay, the way you've been procrastinating about fixing that bathroom faucet drip; the entry deadline is Jan. 31, a mere 10 days from today.

Business reporter Michael Burke can be reached at (262)631-1716 or by e-mail at mburke@journaltimes.com.

To announce a new business, visit http://journaltimes.com/newbusiness and complete the form.

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