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What Should Go Here? The Old Ace Hardware on Joe Orr Road

This property was a topic of debate months ago. What kind of business would you like to see here?

 

A strip mall in the 100 block of Joe Orr Road was a hot topic back in January, as the City of Chicago Heights was laying the groundwork to acquire the vacant properties and sell them as a group.

Take a look at that story and see what Heights residents thought of the plan.

No new developments have been announced regarding the properties, but the most notable one on the strip is the former Ebel's Ace Hardware located at 190 Joe Orr Road.

The old Ace sign is still visable from the street and it's the biggest store in the strip. A drawback may be the property's positioning behind Burger King, but it's still not as tucked away as some of the more successful businesses in Matteson.

So help us figure it out. What type of business should go here?

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a part of the same strip. Would another hardware store do well? What about a pet store? Maybe a book store?

Let us know what you would like to see. Tell us in the comments!

You might also like to read some of our past "What Should Go Here?" articles, which include:

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Visit our directory to learn more about the many businesses in Chicago Heights.

Related Topics: Ace Hardware, Holes in the Heights, What Should Go Here, and vacant properties

stacy hawker

8:23 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

YOUTH CENTER WITH A SMALL FEE TO THE PARENTS BUT FUNDED WITH DONATIONS LIKE THE LANSING YOUTH CENTER

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Michael Nardoni

9:04 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

Gym /fitness center, Health food store, Pet /feed supply store,

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Christopher Paicely

1:43 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

Good, affordable gyms are hard to come by in this area. Good suggestion, Michael!

sandra

9:32 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

Used furniture store like Sell It Again Sam in Matteson. Good business to be in today.

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jason amos

9:59 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

How about Chillis,Hooters,Texas Roadhouse,something that brings people into town.

We are a large town but not one major chain store or eatery!

Not counting BK,and McDonalds. Sad.

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SharonC

10:29 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

yes yes yes....a resturant plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Rob

12:23 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

I am a 21 year old PSC student and have noticed there's not really that many activities to do in our town. I think they should have a pool hall there.... Rather than paying a 1.25$ to play a game at Tender Trap

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Christopher Paicely

1:42 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

A pool hall might be a fun addition to that area. Nice idea, Rob.

MICHELLE

3:00 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

How about the kids who need mentoring and a place to go to talk to other youths that are goin thru some type of crisis in there life for example kids who are bullied or kids who need help with school or every day peer pressure or problems at home and have no where or no one to turn to. So I think a community center.

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jason amos

4:15 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

Michelle Go to the Park District. Teen outreach is availiable, although good luck finding out where that money goes toward each month.

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MICHELLE

4:39 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

I am only making a suggestion

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MICHELLE

4:51 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

The park district has activities for kids and youths. But they do not offer a crisis center for kids and young adults could go to to get help with everyday pressures they need help with or a chance to interact with kids there age that are getting bullied or need help with school work or just need a positive place to go instead of turning to the streets and living the life of drugs and crime that a lot of kids are turning to cause they have no one to turn to cause they think no one cares.

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Winston Wolf

7:56 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

Michelle, don't waste your breath on Mr. Amos. He is not interested in any constructive ideas - only in his apparent obsession with bringing a Hooter's restaurant to Chicago Heights. Your ideas have merit, and you should share them with our public officials.

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jason amos

7:58 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

Chris please explain Teen Outreach Program or anyone that can get info on it

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Susan Paus

12:34 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012

Is it a lot of space for a crisis center..? What about something like a (yes smaller) Target / K-Mart / Walmart? It would be nice to not have to go to Matteson or Halsted St., to get basic items these stores have... IDK; just throwin' ideas out there.

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Nikki Brown

7:21 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

Indoor flea market (always attracts people)

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J Wesley

7:45 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

No strip mall, please! How about a restaurant or business offices.

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Carla k

9:23 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

I am with Jason on this one... Our town does not need another hand-me-down store..... What we need it s nice place to eat And one that is going to stay nice like a Texas roadhouse....someplace people can eat other than fast food..... A sit-down meal.... If other towns can do it why can't we?????

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SharonC

10:44 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

i totally agree carla...this town has so many "PROGRAMS"...especailly section 8...we need to build our city back up....not saying programs are not a good thing..but we have many...i would love to go eat dinner in my own home town instead of indiana, homewood, orland,, etc....the resturants we do have dont stay open passed 3pm...

SharonC

11:04 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

I have lived in this town my whole life....and i have seen program after program come here...and business after business leave...we need to get our town back in order...we need businesses...ones that will stay...that will make business...walmart...kmart...busybee...resturants...NO FAST FOOD...one that stays open passed 3pm...texas roadhouse is very popular...def need a dunkin donuts...

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Susan Paus

11:27 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012

A decent (or good!) restaurant is another great idea!
Will that work, in Ace's building? Is it too large? Would it need too much remodeling for it?..
You know, you're right - why are there no good restaurants in the Heights?? (open past 3 lol)
"lbs"

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Denice

6:16 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

I would love to see an Outback Steak House there. The nearest ones are in Orland Park,Merrillville and Calumet City.

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jason amos

1:41 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

This should be the TOP priority with this administration!!

Something that attracts people here,not payday loans,and dollar stores.

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Catherine

10:34 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012

If not a decent restaurant, then how about a Trader Joe's? A place to get decent organic produce would be great!

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