SOUTH LOOP — The lonely movie theater at Roosevelt Collection is finally getting new neighbors.
Aside from the ShowPlace ICON Theater that opened in 2009, the South Loop high-rise's 330,000 feet of commercial space has been largely vacant since the empty property was sold in early 2011.
But by fall 2013, the would-be commercial hotspot at 150 W. Roosevelt Road will be home to an ULTA Beauty franchise, an H&M clothing store, a Fleet Feet running and athletic shop, and restaurants including BlackFinn American Grille and Chica Loca, according to property management firm McCaffrey Interests.
Dan and Gosia Matkovich, who live in the Prairie District at 17th Street, said they were excited to hear that new tenants were finally en route for the barren commercial stretch.
"That would be great," Dan Matkovich, 32, said. "There's nothing around here besides the Target" on Roosevelt Road and Clark Street.
Gosia Matkovich, 36, said they were tired of "having to go all the way downtown" to shop.
Chris Anderson, 23, a University of Illinois-Chicago student who lives in the lofts at Roosevelt Collection, said he was "excited to see what's gonna come" and that he imagined he'll frequent the shops and restaurants in his building.
The retail space, which at present is largely boarded up and appears undeveloped where the windows are uncovered, takes up two floors of the U-shaped building, and surrounds a landscaped parkway with a playground and three-floor underground parking garage.
