East Peoria Area Shoppers Excited For New Downtown Shops, New Convenience

EAST PEORIA -- East Peoria's new downtown is nearing completion. The city announced three more new businesses over the weekend. Several of the stores coming you can find across the river, but East Side shoppers don't seem to mind.

East Peoria's Chamber of Commerce says bringing retailers into its market is a process. Both retailers and developers have to see eye to eye, and be confident that setting up shop will be a success.

Executive Director for East Peoria's Chamber of Commerce Rick Swan said, "The development of some of the other stores on the downtown, such as Bass Pro, Costco, the announcement of Target, the hotels, it makes it an area that other retailers would like to be next to those stores."

So far East Peoria confirms there will be a Costco, Target, Red Robin, Ulta Beauty, Gordman's, Heartland Dental and ROSS Dress for Less.

You may recognize the names of some of these stores...you can shop at them in Peoria just a few miles away. But many residents on the East side say having them here will save them that trip.

Washington resident Jennifer Wilcoxson said, "I won't be driving into North Peoria because yeah, everything will be here. We need an Olive Garden over here on this side too!"

Pekin resident Courtney Kincaid said, "I'm really excited, I think it's going to be great for the community as a whole. I'm from south of Pekin so it's nice for us to be able to just come to East Peoria instead of driving all the way to Peoria."

Peoria resident Keith King said, "You can never have enough Targets, never enough Walmarts. Anything of that nature. Anything that's gonna be able to give you something at a better price people will travel for."

Swan said more businesses will be announced in the near future and he is aiming to bring in something this area hasn't seen before. Swan said, "I believe the retailers see this as a growth market. We've talked to the developers continually that we'd like to see different things."