The city of Countryside has agreed to sell the land where the former city hall stood to a developer for $1.2 million.
The site is at the southwest corner of 55th Street and East Avenue.
The city council unanimously approved the sale to Lucky Supercenter, Inc., at its June 10 meeting. The economic development committee, chaired by Ald. John Von Drasek, discussed the sale prior to the council vote.
City Administrator Gail Paul said the city had “been working for quite some time on this.”
The developer will purchase the property as-is and redevelop it into a QuickRun gas station with a canopy and 10 fueling stations, plus a food and convenience store with a drive-thru. A second restaurant — likely a Mongolian grill franchise — will also be built on the site, with a third outlot reserved for a potential coffee shop or sandwich shop.
“He’s deciding between two different franchises,” Paul said of the grill concept.
A large berm along 56th Street will screen the site from nearby residences, and there will be no driveway access from 56th Street.
The developer must apply for permits within 90 days, with construction to begin 30 days after approval.
City officials built in safeguards. If the developer fails to open the other businesses within 12 months after the gas station opens, the city can pull the certificate of occupancy. The city also has a buy-back option if the project stalls — though it would cost $1.2 million to exercise.
“This is in case they start the project, run out of financing and don’t finish it,” Paul said.
Finance Director Dave Schutter said the city is expected to receive $12.7 million in various taxes from the site through 2043, when the Tax Increment Financing District ends.
Mayor Sean McDermott said the project will “bring in a significant amount of sales tax. (An estimated) $450,000 a year.” He called it “a nice property” and noted the city had “been trying to move” the land “for a number of years.”
The previous developer, which had held the site for several years, lost interest after repeated delays and extensions. That deal was scrapped in 2025.
Genghis Grill now appears to be the leading contender for the Mongolian grill concept. According to its website, the chain operates restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Virginia, and Ohio. It was founded in 1998 and is based in Irving, Texas.
The old city hall building, fenced off and awaiting demolition, will be cleared to make way for the new development.