05/26/2026
We, small business owners understand the financial realities Northbrook is facing, and I appreciate the effort to have a serious conversation about the future of our downtown. I also agree that doing nothing is not a strategy. Communities evolve, and thoughtful redevelopment can absolutely play a role in strengthening Northbrook’s future.
But I think some important risks are getting lost in this conversation….
Downtown vitality is not created by buildings alone. It is created by people, relationships, and the small businesses that give a town its identity, character and sense of belonging.
The article speaks about attracting businesses and creating a stronger downtown customer base, but businesses already exist here and have been even long before Bean Bar’s existence. People have spent years investing in this community, creating jobs, building relationships with residents, supporting local causes, and becoming part of people’s daily lives and memories. Those contributions have value too not just future tax projections.
I do not believe the conversation should be framed as a choice between “growth” or “doing nothing.” There is room for a more balanced discussion about redevelopment that also prioritizes preserving the local businesses that helped make downtown Northbrook meaningful in the first place.
I also hope residents fully understand what is actually being proposed. This is not just a zoning discussion or a density discussion on paper. This proposal would displace existing small businesses, disrupt livelihoods, and permanently change part of the character of downtown Northbrook.
That deserves thoughtful public discussion, not because people are against change, but because people care deeply about this community. What also deserves consideration is that many of these displaced small businesses will not simply disappear they will likely relocate to neighboring communities that welcome and support them. And when they move, they bring their loyal customer base with them. The families who grab coffee every morning, get their hair done, shop locally, meet friends downtown, and support these businesses year after year may begin spending their time and money elsewhere as well. Redevelopment should not only focus on attracting future residents, but also on retaining the businesses and community relationships that already exist and contribute to Northbrook’s identity today.
I appreciate the acknowledged emotional and economic costs involved. Those costs are real. Behind every storefront is a family, your friend, employees, customers, and years of hard work.
As this process moves forward, I hope the Village Board, developers, and residents remember that successful downtowns are not built only through redevelopment plans and big buildings. They are built through supporting the local businesses and human connections that already make people want to be there. Fancy buildings are not attractive. Your small, unique businesses and entrepreneurs building relationships in your community are.
While this process is emotional and uncertain for many of us, we remain hopeful and deeply grateful for the incredible support from our community. We trust that our local friends, families, customers, and neighbors will show up and make their voices heard and support the small businesses that have been part of Northbrook for so many years. At the heart of this conversation is not just development, but the future of the people and places that make this town feel like home.
- TEAM BEAN BAR & EATACO
The Village Board meets nearly every other Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Sandy Frum Board Room at Village Hall.
