Loves Park city planners expect more growth after Panera Bread opening

LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — Loves Park gets its first Panera Bread on East Riverside Boulevard on Wednesday, with expectations of more development on the way.

“It’s been amazing,” said Executive Director of the Loves Park Chamber of Commerce Duncan Geddes. “There’s been a lot of development, you know, key corridors, along Riverside and on 73, but really throughout the whole parks area.”

This ribbon cutting marks the third business opening in 6 months on East Riverside.

“Oh, it just shows, you know, the growth on this corridor which we love,” said City of Loves Park Economic Development’s Nathan Bruck. “You know, the city relies on sales tax, We don’t; we don’t have a property tax. So I’m getting that additional sales tax, more businesses, more businesses, more people.”

Loves Park could see even more new businesses around the city on the horizon.

“There’s quite a bit coming. There’s a lot of sites along this riverside corridor that are now purchased and being developed,” said Geddes. “You’ve got hotels going in. So there’s lots, like I say, different types of business growth, and you’re seeing it in key areas but also all throughout the Parks’ area.”

Bruck said he expects development to go across the tollway in the next 5 years.

“In the next five years, this is going to be completely built out,” said Bruck. “I’m predicting that the development is going to jump across the tollway. Right now, we are we’re in the planning phases to get good quality development, a comprehensive plan that will promote unified development in that area.”