Yorkville High School students tell what retail stores they'd like in town

YORKVILLE -- They are among the most savvy consumers in the city.

They are keen to what's hip, what's hot and what's not.

And while their disposable income still might be subsidized by their parents, their opinions are highly prized in the marketplace.

That's why Lynn Dubajic, executive director of the Yorkville Economic Development Corporation polled Yorkville High School students on what kinds of businesses they would like to see in the city.

Among the winners: Kohl's, Target, Best Buy and Olive Garden.

Dubajic this week presented the findings to the Yorkville City Council as part of her annual report from the YEDC.

More than half of the students surveyed responses.

"Fifty-five percent is incredible. I think they are very excited about what is happening in Yorkville," Dubajic said.

The students were aked to name their favorite stores, restaurants and other businesses that they would like to see come to Yorkville.

Kohl's was the overwhelming choice for a department store to land in the city. Some 49 percent of the students chose Kohl's, followed by Target with 13 percent and Marshall Field's with 11 percent.

Target came out on top when the catagory was called "general merchandise." Target was the choice of some 55 percent, followed by WalMart with 17 percent.

For electronics stores, Best Buy was the overwhelming choice with 84 percent, followed by Circuit City with 5 percent.

Borders topped Barnes & Noble in the battle of bookstores, with Borders registering 73 percent of the vote and barnes & Noble 21 percent. Part of Dubajic's job is trying to get some of those names interested in locating in Yorkville.

Toward that end, she plans to have a booth at the International Council of Shopping Centers meeting later this month in Chicago.

Also in the works, the YEDC plans to organize a motor coach tour of commercial real estate brokers to offer a closer look at the city and its development sites.

"other communities have done this, and it's been a very successful event," Dubajic said. "It's a very key group of brokers that we'll be inviting."