Whats the pitch to lease the space?
The Review has learned that the 5,500-square-foot store space at Harlem near Franklin was listed for lease a few weeks ago by a commercial property broker in River Forest. Larry Locascio of Champion Commercial Realty confirmed that the store, which is part of a 26,730-square-foot site, is on the market. Locascio provided the Review with a copy of the listing. The site is being marketed both as divisible and as an option for a restaurant, with ample parking – 52 spaces – and drive-through potential. “This was a Sizzler before Blockbuster came in,” says Locascio, referring to the location’s family-steakhouse history. “Before that, it was a Rustler.” What would be left? Should this Blockbuster store close, the nearest Blockbuster stores would be in Cicero, Elmwood Park, Berwyn and LaGrange. Forest Park has three Redbox kiosks, strategically placed here as in communities across the country, where a lot of foot traffic is likely: inside Ultra Foods, on Roosevelt Road; inside Wal-Mart, on De
