The development will be constructed on a 53-acre site adjacent to the Naperville Polo Club in Naperville, IL, says Terry McEwen, president of Poag & McEwen Lifestyle Centers. "That part of Chicago is the fastest growing area of Chicago today. There are now sufficient demographics that will support a large quality lifestyle center, and it is part of the market that is void of quality retail and restaurants," McEwen says.

Von Maur purchased the site for its department store for an undisclosed amount. The department store will be the sixth in Illinois with existing stores in St. Charles, Forsyth, Moline, Glenview, Normal and Lombard. With the opening of the store in Plainfield, there will be a total of 22 Von Maur department stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio.

The outdoor lifestyle shopping center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. McEwen would not disclose the estimated value of the project. Poag & McEwen is currently in discussions with other retailers but no leases have been signed at this point, McEwen says. The developers are in discussions with a bookstore, outdoor sporting goods store, gourmet grocer, a theater and hotel, fashion retailers and several restaurants. McEwen would not disclose asking lease rates for the shopping center, saying the rate will vary depending on the size of the space.