Journal & Topics Media Group

Niles Mayor To Deliver ‘State Of The Village’ This Week

Golf Mill Redevelopment Update, Public Art, ‘Shop Niles’ To Be Discussed; 50-Year Chamber Member To Be Recognized

Niles Mayor George Alpogianis swears in the new Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors at the Chamber’s annual 2022 Leadership and Recognition Luncheon where Alpogianis also delivered his State of the Village address with an extensive update on village infrastructure projects. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

Niles Mayor George Alpogianis will deliver his State of the Village address at the annual Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Leadership & Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 26, at Chateau Ritz. A new 2023 chamber board of directors will also be sworn in and long-time chamber members recognized.

For the first time chamber Executive Director Kim Biederman said a 50-year chamber member business, Minelli Meat & Deli, would be recognized and honored.

Alpogianis said he plans to discuss where the village stands from a business perspective. He said he would discuss ongoing discussions with the Sterling Organization, owners of Golf Mill Shopping Center, to reach a redevelopment agreement. 

At last year’s State of the Village address, Alpogianis first announced conceptual plans to redevelop the shopping center into more of an outdoor mall with restaurants and attractions as well as retail. 

“Food, art, and music bring people together,” Alpogianis said, adding he would renew a push for more public art in the village. He pointed to public art in places like Skokie as an example.

The mayor also said he would renew a push for a “Shop Niles” campaign. He said people shopping locally in retail stores, rather than online, would aid the village by generating property tax revenues, which would aid in keeping property taxes low. 

Among other initiatives Alpogianis said he would renew is a push to bring in new residents, including young families, initially kicked off in 2018. The village has hired outside marketing groups to aggressively appeal to young families to relocate from Chicago to Niles. 

At the event, a new Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors is also expected to be named and longtime chamber businesses honored. 

The new chamber board expected to be sworn in at the event includes Kimberly Smith, of Athletico Physical Therapy Niles-Chicago, who will be sworn in as board president; James Medina, First Financial Credit Union, who will be sworn in as first vice president; Joe Campagna, of Grant Merchant Services, who will be sworn in as board treasurer; Past President Patricia Knoll of Shure Incorporated, and board directors; Tony Dati, Niles Public Works, Chris DeGrave, of Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, Dr. Erica Juris, of the Uptown Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Muhammad Paracha of the AHS Family Health Center, and Alan Zielinski of Better Kitchens, Inc. 

Businesses that will be honored on their anniversaries as Niles Chamber include Minelli Meat & Deli, celebrating 50 years as a chamber member, Erich’s Lehigh Auto Body celebrating 40 years, Lone Tree Manor Banquets celebrating 35 years, Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home, and Advantage Gallery, both celebrating 30 years, and Cluver School, Parkway Bank & Trust, Homeowners Heating & Cooling, and Chicagoland Car Wash, all celebrating 25 years with the chamber. Other businesses and entities celebrating 20, 15, 10, and 5-year anniversaries will also be recognized at the event. 

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One response to “Niles Mayor To Deliver ‘State Of The Village’ This Week”

  1. Jessica Gould says:

    Do you have any brand new updates on the Golf Mill Mall Redevelopment Plans sometime in the near future please?

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