The Buzz: Construction in Little Chute, Grand Chute and more reader Qs – Appleton Post Crescent

Reader question: What is being built by Taste of the Windy City in Little Chute?

Answer: That’s an expansion of the strip mall owned by Smith Pharmacy at 1800 Freedom Road in Little Chute. 

Smith Pharmacy, a successful independent pharmacy, is on the south end of the building. 

Pharmacist/owner Nic Smith is putting a 4,500-square-foot addition on the north end of the building.

Here’s what he has planned: “Windy City is going to stay. H&R Block is going to relocate to the far north part of the addition. Once H&R Block is relocated, we’re going to take over their 1,500 square feet. We need it for storage of things like walkers, canes and crutches. We need a break room and we are increasing the size of our compounding lab.”

Weather and tax season will determine the timeline.

“The goal is to get H&R Block in there before Dec. 1. If not by Dec. 1, that will delay things because they’ll move in May, after tax season,” he said. 

A portion of the expansion will be used as a garage for Smith Pharmacy’s delivery vehicles. Another 1,500 square-foot space is reserved for the pharmacy’s future use.

The cost of the expansion, plus driveway work, improved road entrances and storm water pond, will be close to $1 million.

Reader question: What’s under construction next to Meijer’s gas station?

Answer: Jiffy Lube is building at 3901 N. Richmond St., immediately south of the gas station and in front of the Meijer store in Grand Chute. 

Reader question: Do you know if this Forever 21 is going to close?

Answer: It was not on the closure list released last week. 

Forever 21 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sept. 29. This past week, it released the list of 178 stores targeted for closure, and said it will shut these under-performing branches if it can’t negotiate lower lease rates. 

Two Wisconsin stores were on the closure list: Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa and West Towne Mall in Madison. 

Not on the list: The Fox River Mall in Grand Chute and Bayshore Town Center location in Glendale. 

Reader question: Do you know if our Bed Bath & Beyond will stay open?

Answer: Bed Bath & Beyond has not released a list of the 60 stores it plans to close. 

It has two stores in Grand Chute under its Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market brand names. 

The company plans to close 40 of its 993 namesake Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the U.S. and Canada. The additional 20 closures will come from its other store brands that include World Market, Cost Plus and Buy Buy Baby.

The company said closings will take place in early 2020. 

Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.

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