The process of remodeling the exterior of the Eastwood Shopping Center began this week.
“We’re making upgrades because the reality is this building still looks like it’s in the 1970’s,” Eastwood Shopping Center Manager Alex Amatyleon said. “This is the one area in Mahomet where people come to shop.”
With several tenants who have been a part of the shopping center for over 20 years, and a recent indoor remodel of the mini mall and Los Zarapes, the owner of the building, who lives in California, felt it was time to bring the exterior up-to-date.
An electrician began to upgrade the lighting along the access pathway on Monday. Amatyleon said the 33 LED lights will now stay on most of the night as opposed to individual store owners turning them off when their business closes.
Within the next week or two, crews from National Construction Services will begin to replace the brown shingles and pillars with a light grey and cream exterior.
Three 18-foot peaks will also be added above Ace Hardware, Los Zarapes and to the entrance of the mini mall to add dimension to the very linear building. Ace and Los Zarapes will supply their own LED signage, while the other tenants will receive uniform signage along the roofline.
Amatyleon said several walkways will also need attention as some ramps need to be turned the other direction. A few surfaces also need to be evened out.
“The construction isn’t going to be as bad as you might think,” Amatyleon said. “We aren’t closing any businesses down. There won’t be many dumpsters out here. And you may see only three to four workers at a time.”
“The tenants are really ecstatic that we’re getting a new look,” he continued. “I think they’ll be proud of how their space looks within the center.”
Amatyleon believes construction will be complete by November. Next spring the center will also receive a monument sign along Eastwood Drive. Plans also include updated the sign behind the building to notify westbound traffic along I-74 of shopping and eating possibilities.
It is important to Amatyleon that he hire local workers on any repairs in the Eastwood Shopping Center. The electrician, plumbers, landscaper and contractor on this project are all Mahomet-based businesses.
