19-02-2025
Peoria Heights mayor shares plans for two recently bought buildings
PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (WMBD) — The recent purchase of the Pabst Building by a local developer brings hope that more businesses could make Peoria Heights their home.
That's the message from Mayor Mike Phelan who said on Tuesday that people are constantly reaching out to him to find a place to do business. He credits the village's long-term planning but also the 'people on the street.'
'There's a great demand for businesses, all types of businesses, to be in Peoria Heights. And I think that goes back to the walkability of the village, the parks and green space in the village. I'm a firm believer that when you put people on the street, that makes the streets safer.' the mayor said.
William Torchia bought the Pabst Building, home to law firms and to the The 33 Room earlier this month for $2.5 million, according to records at the Peoria County Courthouse. The building has long been an icon within the community.
It was the administrative offices of the old Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery, which closed in the early 1980s. The 33 Room serves Pabst Blue Ribbon and serves as a historical reminder of the old brewery.
The mayor said he was hopeful the building would continue to thrive under new ownership.
'Their use for the Pabst building, I believe, is going to be more geared towards finance and law and professional offices,' Phelan said. 'I believe everything else that's in the building now, like the 33 room, will be staying.'
Torchia purchased the building from the KDB Group, which is the development group that was owned by Kim Blickenstaff who bought the building about six years ago.
The Pabst building had been previously owned by the KDB Group, which listed the building and several others for sale in 2023. Those others included the Scottish Rite Theatre, Sankoty Lakes in Spring Bay and Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts in Peoria Heights.
Blinkenstaff's KDB Group announced it was 'reevaluating' Peoria-area projects in January 2023.
Torchia also purchased the Save A Lot grocery store, which is located two blocks south of the Pabst Building. Phelan said he's heard that plans could include a type of mixed-used development that could include some residential units within the building.
'I believe from what the developers have told me, and that's a better question for them, but it will be mixed use, and they're planning some residential and grocery and retail in Save A Lot,' Phelan said.
The goal is to keep Save A Lot there but there are plans for what might happen if the store leaves, the mayor said.
'Both the developers and myself have reached out to Save A Lot, to ask them to stay in some form or fashion in the new building. If they don't stay, you know, we'd be willing to relocate them somewhere else within the village,' he said.
Adding to the mix is the proximity to the Rock Island Trail as well as its location on Prospect Road. That makes it an attractive spot for possible residential and the village is considering putting a trail head in the area to highlight the Rock Island Trial.
If Save A Lot did move, he said there was some hope they would stay within the village with some help from the Village Hall.
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