Eckert's Announces Expansion of Belleville Country Store and Restaurant
Posted: 12/22/2009
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 22, 2009) - Nearly 100 years after Alvin O. Eckert opened the first roadside farm stand, offering produce to local residents, Eckert's, Inc. announced today plans to move forward with an expansion of the Eckert's Country Store and Restaurant in Belleville. The expansion will cost $5 million and is scheduled to be finished in 2010, the same year Eckert's, which is lead by the sixth and seventh generations of the Eckert family, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Lawrence Group is the architect and Holland Construction Services is the contractor for the expansion project.
In the next month, Eckert's will break ground on a new, 22,000-square-foot Country Store that will boast expanded space for local produce, locally raised beef and pork in a fresh meat shop, specialty foods, an expanded bakery and a 1,200-square-foot cooking and workshop classroom. The Country Store is expected to open to the public in July 2010. Once the Country Store is complete, construction will begin on renovating and expanding the current Eckert's Country Restaurant. The expanded 14,000-square-foot Restaurant will accommodate nearly 400 guests, providing twice the capacity to serve both local residents and large group outings year-round. The Restaurant expansion is scheduled for completion in September 2010.
"We are appreciative of the community's support as we move forward in building on the long established Eckert's tradition of creating unique family experiences and lasting memories for the next 100 years," said Chris Eckert, president of Eckert's, Inc. "Through our expanded presence in Belleville, we hope to maintain the identity of Eckert's that generations of customers have created family memories with, while expanding our year-round programs and offerings as a specialty grocer of quality, locally grown products."
The expansion will include additional parking, to accommodate customers during peak seasons and throughout the year, and an outdoor plaza to welcome visitors to the Eckert's experience - outstanding fresh products and friendly service within a unique country atmosphere.
"The design of the new Country Store and Restaurant is intended to honor our 100-year history while enhancing our customer experience year-round," added Eckert.
To view architectural renderings of the expansion, visit www.eckerts.com.
About Eckert's
Eckert's Country Store and Farms is the largest family-owned and operated pick-your-own orchard in the United States. Established as a farm and simple roadside stand, the Eckert family now owns and operates farming, entertainment and retail entities in Belleville, Grafton and Millstadt in southwestern Illinois. For a century, Eckert's has served the bi-state region as a local source for agricultural products including pick-your-own strawberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins and Christmas trees during the growing season. Today, Eckert's offers an experience that extends beyond pick-your-own produce to include the Eckert's Country Store & Garden Center, and the Eckert's Country Restaurant. Eckert's offers specialty foods, meats, wine and cheese selections, as well as a range of classes, including cooking and wine classes for adults, and special children's activities for families to enjoy throughout the year.
About Lawrence Group
Lawrence Group is one of the largest international building design, planning, and project delivery firms in St. Louis with 200 employees in the U.S.A. and China. Named in the "Top 100 Giants" by Interior Design Magazine, Lawrence Group is an industry leader with professional staff in seven regional offices in North America and one international office in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Across the international network of operations today, the firm's expertise includes architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, real estate development, graphic design and construction management. For more information on Lawrence Group, contact Donna J. Gamache at (314) 242-1341, or visit http://www.thelawrencegroup.com/">www.thelawrencegroup.com.
About Holland Construction Services
Holland Construction Services is a full-service contracting and construction management firm based in Swansea, Ill., guided by the principle of delivering total customer satisfaction. Now in its 24th year, the company has been providing quality construction throughout Missouri and Illinois since 1986, when it was founded by Bruce Holland. For more information on Holland Construction Services, contact Bruce Holland at (618) 277-8870 or visit www.hollandcs.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Amanda Morgan, Eckert's
618-310-1951
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