One Of Joliet's Great Achievements In 2024 Now Under Construction
JOLIET — When it comes to 2024, Mayor Terry D’Arcy did not have much to celebrate in terms of major news regarding economic development throughout the city of Joliet. Economic development has slowed under D’Arcy’s leadership during his two years of overseeing Joliet, but it has not stalled completely.
Take Joliet’s West Jefferson Street, for example.
If you’ve driven along Jefferson Street lately, you will notice a brand new building being built. It’s on the site of the Baker’s Square ruins. It may have taken a while, but the Seattle-based Starbucks company is now forging ahead to build a new Starbucks coffee house and drive-thru restaurant on the site of the former Baker’s Square.
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The new Starbucks on Jefferson Street should be ready to serve hot coffee to thousands of Joliet customers during the first few months of 2025.
Back in 2022 and 2023, Patch reported that the empty Baker’s Square at 2211 West Jefferson was under consideration for being turned into a marijuana dispensary. However, when the project went to Joliet’s City Council in July 2022, the city’s elected officials never took a vote on the proposal.
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Emerald Coast, on behalf of its operations partner Justice Cannabis Company, sought a special use permit to allow a cannabis dispensary at the former Baker’s Square property.
The company informed Joliet that it anticipated hiring local/union trade workers and spending approximately $1.1 million in renovations to the existing building, parking lot and landscaping. Upon completion, the building valuation was expected to increase two-fold and expected to generate an additional $14,000 in property taxes annually.
Once open for business, the marijuana dispensary company said it expected to generate $12 million to $20 million in gross receipts, of which Joliet would collect a municipal sales tax on 3.0 percent of the gross receipts at the store. The company intended to employ around 20 people, with six to 12 employees onsite at any given time. Average salary within the organization is approximately $60,000 per year, with total annual payroll of approximately $1.2 million. Competitive benefits including paid vacation, 401K, and health plans.
Back in October, Joliet Patch produced a story with several photos that contained the following headline: Inflatable Rats Occupy West Jefferson St: Here’s Why
That’s because Laborers Local 75 was protesting two different construction projects taking place on both sides of the street. One inflatable rat was positioned in the front of the recently demolished Bakers Square restaurant where the new Starbucks coffeehouse is being built.
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The developers on the Starbucks project chose to turn their back on Laborers Local 75, instead using Prairie Concrete, a non-union concrete company out of Huntley.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
Empty Bakers Square, Future Starbucks Property Slapped With City Fines
Does Joliet Need More Starbucks Coffee Shops? Ferak Column
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