by WAUKESHA, Wis. — Steinhafels is readying to expand its Chicagoland presence with two new locations and an area distribution center to better serve the market and support additional growth.
The 14-store retailer will open the 110,000-square-foot distribution center in Bolingbrook, Illinois, next fall, expecting to employ up to 50 people there. Its fourth Chicagoland store is expected to open right after that at 7304 W. Lawrence Ave. in Harwood Heights. Steinhafels will follow with a fifth location in Orland Park in spring 2024.
Adding the distribution center and stores “will continue our goal to be the market leader in furniture and mattresses in Illinois,” President Andrew Steinhafel said.
“Building upon the success of our stores in Vernon Hills, Crystal Lake and Downers Grove has been a strategic goal. 2022 saw the additions of stores in Green Bay and Downers Grove. We successfully opened both of these locations and are incredibly happy with the results,” he said.
The Bolingbrook facility, at 999 Belle Lane, will be the retailer’s second and serve both as the merchandise pickup location for all of its Chicagoland stores and the starting point for area deliveries.
“This new distribution center will expand us further into Illinois, enhancing our reach, speed and availability for all of our stores, while helping us control operational expenses to serve our Illinois customers,” said John Haas, Steinhafels vice president of operations.
The Harwood Heights store, to occupy a former Art Van Furniture store at 7304 W. Lawrence Ave., in the middle of a major retail corridor, will be a roughly 60,000-square-foot furniture and mattress superstore. Included in the planned transformation to Steinhafels will be a design center offering a variety of home designer services.
The retailer’s fifth market will be a 100,000-square-foot superstore located at 203 Orland Park Place in a remodeled space that combines former Bed Bath & Beyond and Stein Mart locations.
It will be located right in the heart of Orland Park’s Furniture Row, across the street from Darvin’s, and near Ashley, Penny Mustard, Roomplace, Walter E Smithe and Bob’s Discount, among others.
Steinhafels expects to add about 100 associates to serve the new retail locations. The company employs more than 600 people across its operations, which include 14 stores in Wisconsin and Illinois.
