Business & Tech

Business Comings & Goings: Good-Bye to Blockbuster, Hello to FedEx

A look at new businesses coming into town and a fond farewell to those that have, for whatever reason, called it quits.

The Romeoville store is among the latest casualties as the movie rental chain continues to close locations.

Signs in the windows of the Weber Road video store announce "We're moving," directing customers to the Dish Network-owned company's website. In recent years, the company has expanded into the DVD-rentals-by-mail business, competing with Netflix. The company is also offering an online streaming service and a "Blockbuster on Demand" service for Dish Network subscribers.

The Romeoville store no longer offers rentals and is selling its stock of movies and video games in an "everything must go" sale. An employee at the store said the location is scheduled to close Feb. 18.

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The closing comes months after locations in and , among other suburban stores, shut their doors. The nearest location that remains open is the Blockbuster Video at 16521 W. 159th St. in Lockport.

Walgreens goes upscale

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It may not be as flashy as the remodeled flagship Walgreens store in Chicago's Loop — that location now has a sushi bar, manicure stations and more — the has a new look. The recently remodeled location boasts a new cosmetics department and Take Care Clinic.

FedEx to invest in Romeoville

Look for some new jobs to come to Romeoville in 2012, as FedEx moves to town.

Mayor John Noak announced at his Jan. 10 "state of the village" address that the company plans to invest more than $37 million into a 250,000-square-foot site in the Pinnacle Business Park on Taylor Road.

"This project is expected to bring nearly 400 jobs ot Romeoville," Noak said, calling it "one of the most exciting new projects" of the year.

Chamber doings

The Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Committee is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Community Service Council's location at 619 Access Dr. in the Spartans' Square mall.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, let me know at shannon.antinori@patch.com.


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