Electronics retailer H.H. Gregg Inc. said it plans to enter the Chicago market for the first time this fall with 20 stores.
The Indianapolis-based company will open stores in Schaumburg, Niles and Vernon Hills, among other locations, according to spokeswoman Sari Martin.
The fast-growing retailer aims to take advantage of big-box real estate left empty in the wake of the recession, moving into stores once occupied by bankrupt retailers Circuit City, Wickes Furniture and Linens ‘n Things.
The company plans to hire 900 workers.
H.H. Gregg, founded in 1955 by H.H. and Fansy Gregg, operates 174 stores in the southern and Midwestern U.S.
It’s a shame all of those businesses that are fleeing Illinois, huh?
Hey, Someone tell Guv Daniels,
Your campaing to lure companies to Indiana is working in reverse!
lol farmer hoosier they aren’t relocating their HQ here they will stay in Indy they are just opening new stores which every company does. Indiana is trying to get the main businesses to move to Indiana and youll see a major flock soon due to the fact were lowering our tax from 8.5% to 6.5% which is 3% lower than illionis and combined with our other cheap taxes youll see the major flock right after its signed into law.
also i should mention the 900 job created don’t require an education. yet the jobs indiana is trying to get require an education.
Yeah– but it’s still Indiana…
Indiana has an 8.5% tax, WOW!! Illinois tax rate is set to lower to 5.5% in the near future.
I can’t understand how HHG is growing so much. Their ads don’t usually list model numbers (making price comparison difficult.) They must prey on the poorly educated.
Hey Joe, but add our sales tax and we pay much more than Indiana.
TimT – you get what you pay for. The only time I’m in Indiana is on my way to somewhere else.
What’s sadder than Detroit other than they place people won’t stop along the way.
What did Quinn offer HHG as incentive?
Borders employees, you now know where to send your resumes…
Niles location might be the former Circuit City location across from the walmart on Touhy Ave?
I chuckle at the comments about companies coming to Illinois. First, retail stores should be coming to Chicagoland, we are the third largest metropolitan area in the US. What does that mean class??? Lot’s of consumers! Second, HH Gregg is an Indianapolis based company, so I don’t think by opening stores here means they are moving to Illinois. Now, it is interesting that Illinois went from having about half of Indiana’s corporate tax rate to being a full percentage point higher. Indiana still ranks towards the top when it comes to states’ corporate tax rate, but Illinois certainly didn’t do itself any service by leap-frogging something like 42 other states in tax rate.
Finally!! I am sick and tired of looking at these closed stores. You would of think that Costco, Walmart, Target, Khols, Ikea, and Big Lots would had done the same thing. Now what businesses will take over the future closed Borders stores.
Lots of business news so far this week. First, Target is putting a store on State Street. Second, some of the Borders stores are closing nationwide. Third, an Indiana electronic store brand is coming to Illinois. But, still no new stores coming to Block 37. I bet that former Lohmann store, on State and Randolph, will be leased before Block 37.
900 jobs is 900 jobs! Opening anywhere is a good thing.
these jobs require no education, REALLY?
You think customer service will suffer, since no education required?
YUCK
I’m originally from Indianapolis. H.H. Gregg has been around forever, that’s where I bought my electronics as a teen. They were supposed to be crushed when Best Buy and Circuit City came to town. Instead, they thrived and opened a HUGE new showcase store. Circuit City is long gone, and now H.H. Gregg is coming to Chicago. Think of Abt. I haven’t shopped at an H.H. Gregg for many years, but I am really looking forward to their expansion here.
this rocks if you live on the NW IN border with IL and are looking for work. Thanks guys
you guys forget, its Indiana; no Illinoisan wants to move and live with Ku Klux Klan members and the rest of the state’s inhabitants
BYE BYE FRY’S!
Don’t go away mad, JUST GO AWAY!
Yep…900 jobs @ $10/hour…whoopie!
Wow, low paying retail jobs!!! I am sure all those liberal arts graduates with 90k in debt will be lining up in droves so they can sell electronics at some store nobody has ever heard of, in the middle of a deep recession.
Don’t worry I am sure the HQ in Indy will be hiring the brains for a more reasonable salary we would all hope.
Oh selling electronics made in China of course….
I agree with knowsbetter…. Who cares if they are 900 jobs that don’t even pay a living wage!
Plus there stores aren’t nearly as nice as a Best Buy or ABT
Best Buy FINALLY gets some much-needed competition.
People,
GROW UP! Jobs are jobs. They are needed everywhere. We should all be happy new business is coming to town and opening in unoccupied spaces! It is not just the retail jobs. It funnels to many more avenues.
Dear Robert A/Knows better,
Some people need any job they can get! Don’t like it don’t shop there. We wish everyone had your problems!
Dear Robert A,
I assume you do not have any electronics in your house since you stated that HH is selling items made in China! Take a look at where the computer you are sound off on was manufactured! LOL!
Remember Highland, Silo, Circuit City, Pacific Stereo, Polk Brothers, and Fretter??? I predict that in a few years or less, H.H. Gregg, with their similar expansion plans, will be joining this list too.
Abt is unbeatable, period. Quality… price… service. Even Abt’s low-price merchandise is much better than BB. Gregg might give Best Buy some much needed competition. But in Niles?? Dumb.
Laughing at items made in China. Is there any TV made in America? Does Zenith still exist? Isn’t that where Abt’s Glenview store is located…plant formerly operated by Zenith?