The commercial expansion of DeKalb is seeing a new addition to the area.

The Ohio-based Elder Beerman Department Store, located on Sycamore Road, plans to open its first store in the Chicago metropolitan area on Wednesday at the Northland Plaza, located on Sycamore Road.

This store is part of the latest development in the plaza. The plaza features Panera Bread, Leath Furniture, Maurice’s, Quality Cellular and Subway. Also, J.C. Penney will move into the space next to Elder Beerman.

Jeff Renkert, director of cooperate marketing for Joseph Freed and Associates, said that once Elder Beerman and J.C. Penney come, the anchors for the shopping center will be in place.

Renkert said once retailers see the construction done, they will be more likely to move in.

By the end of the year, they expect to have all their anchors in place and get many of the smaller business in place as well.

Smaller retailers such as BoRics Hair Salon, Gamestop and Claire’s Boutique have signed leases and will become a part of the growing plaza.

Renkert said they also plan to add smaller, independent buildings away from the anchor stores, similar to the one Panera Bread is housed in.

These buildings will be located on Sycamore and Barber Greene roads.

Elder Beerman is the ninth-largest independent department store in the United States. It features fashion apparel, shoes, cosmetics and housewares.