Consultant outlines Villa Park economic development action plan, retail gap analysis

Mike Mallon, principal of Mallon and Associates, told the Village of Villa Park commission he was engaged last September on a 12‑month assignment and is now in the implementation phase of a three‑phase economic development project: market evaluation, an action plan and implementation. “I want you to think of me as a resource. I do not have the answers. I don’t have the magic dust, but I do have a little bit of experience,” Mallon said as he handed commissioners a binder describing seven target areas and associated action templates.

Mallon described the methodology behind the action plan: demographic and retail gap analyses, conversations with property owners about whether they intend to sell or lease, identification of potential retailers and developers, and an assemblage strategy for sites that require combining multiple parcels. He said retailers and developers prefer to see market evidence and that the gap analysis is a starting point to show potential demand for groceries, restaurants and apparel.

Commissioners pressed Mallon on timelines and feasibility. Mallon said supermarket deals can take years: in Chicago his grocery projects averaged six to seven years, and he has worked on more than 200 grocery stores in his career. He emphasized that redevelopment in a built‑out suburb like Villa Park is harder than greenfield work and often requires negotiating with multiple property owners and sometimes municipal tools to bridge financial gaps.

Mallon pointed to specific local opportunities, including Villa Oaks, where a landlord has regained control of a former Amazon Fresh lease and where Mallon reported a promising meeting with a grocer interested in a fully built 40,000‑square‑foot box. He also described a roster of retail prospects he shares with staff and property owners and suggested the commission help promote these wins at industry events.

The presentation closed with Mallon urging continued patience and steady effort: “This is not a sprint. This is a journey,” he said, asking commissioners to study the action plan ahead of his return next month.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the April meeting minutes by voice vote (recorded as three ayes) earlier in the meeting; a motion to adjourn later carried and the meeting ended at 6:58 p.m.