A secret no more, business booms in Savoy corridor

One often overlooked benefit of living in a growing community is witnessing the emergence of new business sectors. As Champaign and Savoy have both enjoyed their share of recent expansion, a corridor along Route 45 has quietly become a very desirable office and retail location.

Comprised of Dunlap Court and Woodfield Drive, with exposure on Route 45, this low-key corridor has proven to be an ideal location for several commercial properties. Close proximity to the University of Illinois and several Champaign and Savoy residential neighborhoods provides a steady flow of customers for companies located here. The new I-57 interchange at Curtis Road has produced even healthier traffic flow, and these businesses have also benefited from the Savoy municipal staff, which does all it can to promote growth throughout the village.

"Savoy has always been great to work with," said Alex Ruggieri, commercial agent and vice president of brokerage for Sperry Van Ness / Ramshaw Real Estate. "They have at once both a highly professional attitude and a very approachable team. It's the kind of combination that gets things done!"

Ruggieri, company president Jerry Ramshaw, and other SVN / Ramshaw agents have helped several of this corridor's companies acquire and develop their properties, including Chittick Family Eye Care, Powerline Petroleum, American Express Financial, Massey Family Dentistry, and Dimond Brothers Insurance. SVN / Ramshaw also manages the Professional Commerce Center at 1808 Woodfield Drive, which is home to State Farm Insurance, State Geological Survey, Department of Children and Family Services, Wickersheimer Engineering, and PrePARE Engineering.

"When I first got together with Alex, I didn't know him at all, but we quickly connected and then he homed in on other locations than what we originally had in mind," said Dr. Shawn Mallady of Chittick Family Eye Care. "He discussed not only the upside of each spot, but what mistakes we could make with each one, which was so important."

Mallady's group purchased its building at 8 Dunlap Court in February 2007, did an extensive remodel, and opened for business in November 2007. He credits the location on Route 45, the new interchange, and the Village of Savoy itself for making this process a smoothÑand rewardingÑone.

"We were able to refurbish a once-great building back to its glory," Mallady said. "It's a California-'70s style building that's a great blend of professional and retail-oriented."

Another recent addition to the corridor's makeup was Powerline Petroleum, a commodity trading and brokerage firm for energy concerns. Powerline bought its property at 7 Dunlap Court in the fall of 2005 and moved its offices there in summer 2006. According to Powerline's Dave Chatterton, they were able to purchase a building larger than the company initially needed, leasing out the extra space as incubation office space for small businesses.

"We love it here," Chatterton said. "It's been great for us to be right on Neil/Dunlap, just two blocks south of Windsor. It's very accessible to the airport and the new interchange."

With so much residential growth in the southern reaches of Savoy and northern edge of Tolono, and increased retail establishments along Route 45 as well, this small nook appears to have a promising future. The agents of SVN / Ramshaw, located just about a mile north in Illini Plaza, certainly will be looking for ways to help clients take advantage of sweet spots like this one.

"We are proud that we have in some small ways contributed to the growth of Savoy and the U.S. 45 corridor," Ruggieri said. "I see great things happening in the future for Savoy!"