Nail Bar in Highland Park Closes

Update 2 p.m.: The Nail Bar on Central Avenue will be replaced by Cos Bar, a luxury cosmetics boutique, according to Highland Park Business Development Coordinator Carolyn Hersch.

She added that some of the other vacancies in downtown Highland Park may not be vacant for long. Blue Mercury, another cosmetics store, is going into the former Corner Bakery storefront. A Panera is still expected at the storefront across from Michael's. And Stashs' property owner is working on a lease with a prospective tenant.

"While spaces look like they're vacant, they're actually not," Hersch said.

The city's business development coordinator explained that lease negotiations can go on for months or longer, and that often a new business isn't announced until the business pulls a building permit from the city or the property owners make the announcement.

"Until signs go up, people don't know they're actually leased."

Prospective tenants are also looking at the leftover space at Renaissance Place and at the spot at Green Bay and Central where M used to be, according to Hersch.

Earlier: The Nail Bar on Central Avenue in downtown Highland Park closed on Monday.

The nail salon opened in 2007. It is one of four Nail Bar locations in the Chicago area. The nearest one to Highland Park residents, now that this one is closed, is at 1524 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.

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"This decision has come after a great deal of effort and thought from all of the staff in the main office and the Highland Park salon," Nail Bar Communications Manager Mareva Lindo said in an email.

The closure means another notable vacancy in downtown Highland Park. Currently, there are empty storefronts where Corner Bakery used to be, Stashs, M Restaurant, part of Saks Fifth Avenue and the Highland Park Theatre.

It is worth noting, however, that Highland Park's rate of filling storefronts has actually risen from 85 percent to 93 percent in the past two years. The city is bringing new businesses in more than it's losing them, despite these visible holes.

However, figuring out how to keep businesses in the downtown continues to be a struggle for residents, business owners and city officials. Last December, Patch explored the question of what the city could and should be doing to keep businesses in Highland Park. 

While many questioned what the city's involvement should be, some business owners suggested that they just needed more support from the community.

"All businesses need customers," said Posh owner Pamela Hillman in a comment about M's closing. "It's a tough business being a small business owner; we all need the community support."

Another business owner said that even the support from one community would not cut it. Ted Holleb, who owns City Park Grill, lamented the difficulty of maintaining his restaurant in a troubled economy.

"We do have wonderful regulars from Highland Park that try to support us," Holleb said in a comment. "Unfortunately pulling from Highland Park is not enough these days."

What do you think can be done to bring more businesses to downtown Highland Park? How often do you go shopping in town?

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