WEST LOOP — The West Loop’s alderman is throwing his support behind Google’s planned retail store on Randolph Street.
Late Thursday, Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) called reports of the technology powerhouse opening a flagship retail store in the Fulton Market “a great idea.”
“I support it 100 percent, but they don’t need my support to come in,” Burnett said.
Early Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reported that Google was close to finalizing a lease on a 14,000-square-foot-retail store between 845 and 853 W. Randolph St. Although Google has hosted pop-up shops, this would be the first retail store for the behemoth, according to the report.
The Tribune reported the property would include the former homes of shuttered restaurants Jaipur and Perez. The beloved restaurants closed within the last year, following steep rent hikes.
Block Club was unable to independently verify the report.
“We don’t comment on rumor or speculation,” a Google spokesperson said in an email.
Property owners Newcastle Limited did not return phone calls.
Burnett, who had not yet verified the Tribune’s report, said a retail space would be “great for commerce and would enhance the area.”
If Google were to open a retail store, he thinks it would attract tourism to the already booming area.
“I would hope that [if they do open a store], they would make it just as cool as the Apple store [on the Chicago River], where people can just hang out at the store,” he added.
In June, the Tribune reported Google would expand its office space by more than 100,000 square feet in the Fulton Market.
Google opened its West Loop headquarters at 1000 W. Fulton Market in 2015. Google Chicago previously operated out of offices at 20 W. Kinzie St. in River North for more than a decade.
