Ace Hardware and Hair Cuttery are anticipated to open near the new commercial tenant area on Annie Glidden Road later this year.

These businesses will join Schnucks Markets, 975 S. Annie Glidden Road, and Greenacre Cleaners, 929 S. Annie Glidden Road, in that area.

Russ Farnum, community development director of DeKalb, said this has been several years in the making.

There are still many vacant storefronts available for rental.

“As they’re getting some of the buildings built, they are announcing who some of the tenants are going to be,” Farnum said.

“DeKalb welcomes all those new businesses in that area to town,” Farnum said. “We feel there’s a need for those commercial uses in that area and we feel they are filling that need.”

Greenacre Cleaners opened Feb. 21, the first business to open in that commercial tenant area since Schnucks Markets opened Dec. 4.

Tom Bartnett, owner of Greenacre Cleaners, said their new store is on track with their expectations.

It’s an industry norm that for a new dry cleaning location to reach its full potential is two to three years, Bartnett said.

“We’re happy that we are able to open a location that is more convenient for that part of DeKalb and Malta and provide a convenient drop off location for the NIU community,” Bartnett said.

Bartnett said he has also seen a greater student presence and the bussing service has helped.

“We have also seen a lot of students that have been using our services that we didn’t see before,” Bartnett said.

Schnucks Markets was the first of the businesses in that area to debut.

The business is growing and we are busier now than when we first opened, said Naomi Davis, service desk and bookkeeper of Schnucks Markets in DeKalb.

“I think it will help when more of the stores open up because it will bring a lot more people in here,” Davis said.

Davis said she thought the customers seem to be made up of a 50/50 student-to-family ratio.