Downtown Frankfurt projects include new restaurants, shopping center expansion

Officials, business owners and residents are expressing enthusiasm for a French bistro, sushi restaurant and expansion of the Olde Frankfort Mall building in downtown Frankfort.

The village approved a comprehensive plan in 2019, Mayor Keith Ogle said, including major projects for downtown.

“We want to maintain a welcoming community feeling and small-town atmosphere, while still being a very modern village,” Ogle said. “We are excited about the future of Frankfurt and the direction we are taking. All these developments will only improve the experience of people here.

A building under construction at 7 N. White St. will house three restaurants — Senso Sushi, Rustic Knead and Nautical Bowls — and a children’s dentist office. The businesses will open this summer, Ogle said.

Frankfort resident Claire Roth said she was looking forward to the sushi restaurant and more business options.

“Just to have more variety, people are excited about it,” Roth said. “It’s so busy because there are very few restaurant options right now.”

Down the street at 20 S. White St., the Frankfort Arts Association Subway recently received a permit for art classes and an art gallery, according to village officials.

Adjacent to those businesses, Olde Frankfort Shopping Center, 15 Ash St., received approval from the village board for a 3-story addition to accommodate restaurants, shopping and entertainment spaces, officials said of the village. Ogle said the addition is expected to be completed by 2025.

“The building really needs renovation and that would also represent an expansion of available space,” Ogle said.

Kim Berger, manager of Rare Apparel across the street from Olde Frankfort Mall, said the new businesses downtown will help existing businesses expand their customer base.

“I think it will be great for downtown,” Berger said. “We are friendly neighbors. It brings business here.

A few blocks away, at 116 Kansas St., the historic Cactus Carol’s building is being renovated to accommodate French bistro Petite Patate, which will open on the first floor with rentals, either apartments or short-term rentals , on the second floor, Ogle said.

The Cactus Carol building had been dormant for decades, Ogle said, and it last housed a restaurant. The building was at risk of being condemned, Ogle said.

“The village had carried out restoration work on certain bricks which had fallen. We’ve done some maintenance on the property,” Ogle said. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city. We were hoping to restore it.

Petite Patate is expected to open this summer, Ogle said. The bistro opened in New York, Ogle said, but the chef is originally from Frankfurt and his parents still live in the area.

“He came back to open this basically in his hometown. We are very excited,” Ogle said. “He is a very creative, very innovative chef. This will be a really interesting addition. It’s also good to see that this building is being restored instead of being demolished.

Trustee Maura Rigoni said the renovation of the Cactus Carol building will help the village expand the west side of downtown.

“It’s really exciting that we’re preserving a building downtown, breathing a breath of fresh air into the building,” Rigoni said.

Downtown Frankfort has become a place where residents and visitors can meet for dinner or shopping, she said.

“These developments here will only contribute to the growth of Frankfurt,” Rigoni said.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com