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Officials, business owners and residents are expressing excitement over the development of a French bistro, a sushi restaurant and the expansion of the Olde Frankfort Shopping Center building in downtown Frankfort.
Mayor Keith Ogle said the village approved a comprehensive plan for downtown in 2019, including major projects.
“We want to keep a nice sense of community and a small town feel, but we’re still a very modern village,” Ogle said. “We are excited about the future of Frankfort and where we are going. “All of these developments will really improve people’s experience here.”
7 N. White St. A building under construction at will feature three restaurants, Senso Sushi, Rustic Knead and Nautical Bowls, and a children’s dentist office. Ogle said the businesses will open this summer.
Frankfort resident Claire Roth said she is looking forward to the sushi restaurant and more job options.
“To have more diversity, people are excited about it,” Roth said. “It gets busy very quickly because there are so few restaurant options right now.”
Down the street, 20 S. White St., according to village officials. At , the Frankfort Art Association’s Underground building recently received permits for art classes and an art gallery.
Village officials said the businesses are adjacent to 15 Ash St. He said he received approval from the Village Board for a 3-story additional building that will house the dining, shopping and entertainment area of the Olde Frankfort Shopping Center at . The addition should be completed by 2025, Ogle said.
“The building really needs renovation, and that will also mean expanding the existing space,” Ogle said.
Kim Berger, manager of Rare Apparel across from the Olde Frankfort Mall, said the new businesses downtown will help existing businesses expand their customer base.
“I think it would be great for downtown,” Berger said. “We’re friendly neighbors. It brings business here.”
A few blocks down, at 116 Kansas St., the historic Cactus Carol’s building is being renovated for French bistro Petite Patate, which will open its first floor with apartments or short-term rentals on the second floor, Ogle said.
Ogle said the Cactus Carol’s building had been idle for decades and was the last home to house a restaurant. Ogle said the building is in danger of being condemned.
“The village had done restoration work on some fallen bricks. We are doing some maintenance on the property,” Ogle said. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city. We were hoping to restore it.
![Olde Frankfort Shopping Center Development, 15 Ash St., recently received a series of approvals from the Village Board to construct a 3-story addition to the building for new dining, shopping and entertainment space. (Alexandra Kukulka/Daily Southtown) - Alexandra Kukulka, Daily Southtown, February 27, 2024](https://bestamericancomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1709120358_509_Frankfurt-city-center-plans-include-new-restaurants-and-shopping-center.jpg)
Petite Patate is expected to open this summer, Ogle said. The bistro opened in New York, but the chef is from Frankfort and his parents still live in the area, Ogle said.
“He came back to open this mainly in his hometown. We are very excited,” Ogle said. “He is a very creative, very innovative chef. This will be a really nice addition. “It’s also nice to see this building being restored rather than demolished.”
Trustee Maura Rigoni said the renovation of Cactus Carol’s building will help the village expand the west side of downtown.
“It’s really exciting that we’re preserving a building downtown and breathing fresh air into it,” Rigoni said.
He said downtown Frankfort has become a place where residents and visitors can meet to eat or shop.
“These developments here will only continue to help Frankfort grow,” Rigoni said.
akukulka@chicagotribune.com