W E D N E S D A Y
July 16, 2025 Vol. 46, No. 3
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@wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL @oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
Good Trouble protest in Longfellow Park this Thursday Page 11
QuikTrip seeks permit to redevelop Mohr site
Barnes & Noble promises new store at Lake & Harlem Plans to open in 2026. Oak Park says deal is not done
JAVIER GOVEA
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
The former Marshall Field and Company building at 1144 Lake St. in Oak Park will likely be home to a chain bookstore — again.
The historic building will soon feature a Barnes & Noble location, as leadership at the bookseller told Wednesday Journal it’s reached an agreement to turn part of the building into a 25,000 square foot, two-level store with a cafe. The store is expected to open next summer,
according to Janine Flanigan, Barnes & Noble’s vice president of store planning and design. “We’ve been very successful with our new store openings, and we’re really See BARNES & NOBLE on page 15
Gas station giant QuikTrip is in early stages of bid for blighted Mohr Concrete site that’s in foreclosure in south Oak Park By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
The future of the long vacant Mohr concrete site may be coming into focus. Village leaders are aware of interest from nationwide gas station chain QuikTrip to redevelop the former H.J. Mohr & Sons co. concrete site. Oak Park’s Development Services Head Craig Failor confirmed to Wednesday Journal this week that QuikTrip had “submitted a preliminary application for a special use approval,” for the village to review. Oak Park’s Plan Commission holds public hearings concerning planned developments, rezoning, special uses and other development matters and typically meets on the first Thursday of the month. The body did not hold See MOHR SITE on page 17