A flagship Ashley Furniture store that was part of a proposed Amazon retail development in Oak Brook has been removed from the project, after community feedback pushed developers to prioritize expanded stormwater retention and green space over additional retail space.
The original proposal consisted of a 22-acre site on Butterfield Road currently occupied by seven office buildings slated for demolition. Plans called for a 225,000-square-foot Amazon store — roughly 40% larger than the Costco in Oak Brook — plus a 150,000-square-foot Ashley Furniture store over two floors just east of the Amazon location.
Oak Brook Village President Larry Herman said the Ashley Furniture component was removed to allow for expanded open detention ponds, responding to concerns raised at an initial village board presentation about the proposed underground stormwater retention system. Residents expressed strong preferences for more green space and an open landscaped pond design.
Village Manager Greg Summers estimated the lost sales tax revenue from the Ashley Furniture store will be “several hundred thousand dollars per year.” However, Herman said the village still hopes to attract Ashley and other compatible retailers along the Butterfield Road corridor as other outdated office buildings are redeveloped.
The Amazon store project is moving forward without tax increment financing or any financial incentives from the village, Herman noted. Amazon confirmed it is “committed to being a good neighbor and values the partnership we’ve built with the Oak Brook community,” adding that its new supercenter retail concept will offer groceries, household essentials, and general merchandise with no membership fee required.
Oak Brook is also home to a planned Amazon retail location in Orland Park. Herman said he does not expect the Amazon store to hurt business at the existing Costco, drawing a parallel to how the proliferation of restaurants has transformed Oak Brook into a regional dining destination. “The addition of Amazon will drive more retail sales throughout Oak Brook, including Costco,” he said.
