World-famous coffee retailer joins transformative project aimed at becoming an economic catalyst for the city’s west side
CHICAGO– The Illinois Medical District (IMD) and Gateway Partners, LLC announced today that Starbucks has opened for business in the retail corridor of the IMD Gateway. The coffee retailer is the first vendor to begin operating at the 9.5 acre mixed-use development site.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Starbucks to the Gateway,” said IMD CEO Dr. Suzet McKinney. “Their presence is a milestone in our efforts to transform the District into a more vibrant space, and will help uplift the surrounding communities with additional job opportunities.”
Starbucks’ IMD Gateway location fills a longstanding need for additional amenities in the nation’s second largest urban medical district. It will serve an area that has four hospitals, 29,000 employees and sees 50,000 daily visitors. The IMD is also bordered by some of the most historically underserved neighborhoods in Chicago. The addition of these amenities and employment opportunities helps fulfill the IMD’s mission to foster economic growth for the city and state.
“Gateway Partners is proud to be a part of Dr. McKinney’s bold vision for the IMD,” said Eileen Rhodes, President at East Lake Management. “The Gateway has great potential as a community anchor, and we’ll continue to work toward making it a reality.”
Starbucks will remain open throughout construction at the development site. It is accessible via Ogden Avenue between Damen Avenue and Polk Street, and Damen Avenue between Harrison Street and Ogden Avenue, with on-site parking available for retail customers. Hours of operation are 5am-8pm Monday to Friday and 6am-7pm Saturday and Sunday.
Phase one retail construction at the IMD Gateway is scheduled to continue through 2019. Additional retailers have signed leases to operate in the retail corridor, including Chipotle, Jimmy John’s, AT&T, Habit Burger and Eye Q Optique. Phase two construction of housing and hotel infrastructure is scheduled to begin in late 2019.
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About the Illinois Medical District
Situated in the heart of one of the world’s most admired cities, the Illinois Medical District (IMD) offers partners a unique ecosystem of knowledge, collaboration, and resources, plus something more: the opportunity to impact the world’s next great district for healthcare innovation. Together, IMD partners accelerate discovery and commercialization that is reshaping the practice of medicine, generating prosperity for everyone.
