The former Shopko building in Galesburg has been purchased by Robbins Resource Management, a wholesale pallet company based in Monmouth.
Galesburg Warehouse LLC operated by Monmouth’s Jason and Rich Robbins are listed in real estate transactions as buyers of the property at 888 S. Lake Storey Road for $400,000.
They are planning on using it for product assembly, warehouse and storage for their plastic pallet business according to documents from the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Attempts seeking comment from the Robbins have been unsuccessful.
The Robbins’ are coming to the PZC is for a special use permit in which the commission will consider how the proposed use would impact neighboring land.
Across the street to the north is Sandburg’s Villa Apartments, to the west is a mix of homes and agriculture, and a single-family home to the east, across Henderson Street.
Already the City’s Development and Review Committee has given their stamp of approval.
The PZC can grant the permit with certain conditions if they think it’s necessary.
They bought the property from William D. Daniels of Quincy. Penn-Daniels, a company in which Daniels was CEO, sold 18 stores they owned across three states to Shopko Stores Inc. in 1997, although he has owned the building since Shopko’s closure in 2001.
Online Knox County property tax information indicates that the property was assessed at a value of near $2.2 million in 2013, and then less than $800,000 in 2018.
Olson Packaging Services was interested in using the building but hit a snag in May when the PZC refused to rezone the property from general business to light manufacturing.
President of the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development Ken Springer says they are “big fans” of creative re-use in vacant buildings.He says they improve the look of the community, have created job opportunities and are helping to sustain property values. He lists developments at the former Aldi’s, J.C. Penny’s and K-Mart buildings that have begun in the last year.
