Schaumburg: A Regional Magnet for Business, Shopping and Entertainment

The motto displayed on official village materials and in various places around town,"Progress through thoughtful planning," is an especially apt description of the multifaceted suburban community of Schaumburg.

The area started as a farming community largely populated by Germans, which explains the German-inspired name of the village. A busy town center quickly sprang up around successful farms in the mid- and late- 1800s. When the Chicago suburbs really built up in the 1950s and 60s, thanks to new roadways and the growing O’Hare International Airport, Schaumburg’s then-leaders divvied up tracts of land to be dedicated to business, commercial, residential and agricultural use.

That careful planning, in turn, led to the development of the sprawling Woodfield Mall and to several office complexes that helped build the village’s reputation as a hub of business and industry. In recent years, despite the often-struggling economy, Schaumburg has stayed on the path to progress thanks to developments like the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel, and other new stores, entertainment venues and businesses.

Those with Schaumburg ties say the community still lives up to its motto. "They got it right with the mix of business, residential, community and recreation," agrees Kaili Harding, president of the Schaumburg Business Association, adding, "Schaumburg truly is a place to work and play — that’s why so many families transition into Schaumburg from other communities."

Village President Al Larson, who has been in office since 1987 and prior to that served as a trustee, concurs that the city’s shopping, dining, business and entertainment offerings, along with its stellar library, schools and other public services, have evolved with careful planning to make the area both a destination and an attraction for those looking for a hometown. "It’s a wonderful place to raise a family," he says.

Larson, who raised his own brood in Schaumburg, cites many reasons for its hometown appeal. Among them:  "Our tax levy is lowest of anywhere around."

Woodfield Mall

To Larson’s point, taxes are low in Schaumburg due to the village’s vibrant business and commercial industries, particularly Woodfield Mall.

The parking lots may not be as jammed as they were the last few months with droves of holiday shoppers, but Woodfield Mall is a year-round, major attraction that is practically synonymous with Schaumburg.

Woodfield is, in fact, the largest retail mall in the Chicago area and among the top 10 in the country. Spanning 2.3 million square feet, the shopping center includes over 300 restaurants and shops, including anchor retailers Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Nordstrom, JCPenney and Sears.

As Harding notes, Woodfield Mall is a gem for residents and visitors alike because of its depth and breadth of offerings, which are different than other malls, even in the Chicago area. "Many national brands try stores in Woodfield first to see the response before expanding the brands to other malls in the country," Harding points out.

In addition to stores that run the proverbial gamut from apparel to home décor to gifts, Woodfield Mall houses several eateries with an equally diverse array of offerings, from A to Z, or at least from A (A&W) to Y (YoChill). Rainforest Café is a big draw, and new establishments continue to enter the mix, like the soon-to-open Nestle Toll House Café.

The area immediately surrounding the mall is also lined with all types of stores and restaurants. The flagship IKEA store just north of Woodfield Mall is one of only two locations in the state.

Across the street from Woodfield Mall, the Streets of Woodfield includes retailers like Carson Pirie Scott, Crate & Barrel, Whole Foods and a variety of specialty shops and eateries such as Maggiano’s, Shaw’s Crab House and Chipotle, among others.

Kid-Friendly Attractions

If Schaumburg is alluring to many for its shopping and dining, this suburb is also a big draw for families, whether they are looking to put down roots or are making plans for a day trip. Indeed, one can rattle off a host of kid-friendly attractions within the boundaries of Schaumburg.

Among them is Yu Kids Island Chicago, inside Woodfield Mall. The indoor play space includes at least 10 activities for kids, such as a "revolving tree" and "dancing balloons." It’s also a popular place for birthday parties.

Another kid-friendly hotspot is the LEGO Discovery Center at the Streets of Woodfield. Visitors can buy all types of LEGO sets here, but there are a lot of attractions at this site, too, from a 4D Cinema to "Technicycle" rides and a laser ride.

Medieval Times is another popular draw for families throughout (and beyond) the western suburbs. The castle just off the Northwest Tollway has become a Schaumburg landmark of sorts since it first opened 22 years ago. The daily tournament — complete with a medieval banquet and live jousting competition among knights on steeds — regularly packs in enthusiastic audiences.

Those looking to combine entertainment with education for their little ones can check out the FireZone, which provides a fun yet informative experience about firefighting, complete with kid-sized fire trucks, safety programming and activities conducted by experienced firefighters.

Beyond fire trucks, another form of transportation that has long transfixed children (and adults) is the airplane. To that end, kids and grownups alike gather at Pilot Pete’s, a restaurant inside the Schaumburg Regional Airport, where patrons can watch planes take off and land during their meal.

This time of year, as cabin fever sets in, families looking for a brief seasonal respite can head to the Water Works indoor water park inside Schaumburg’s Community Recreation Center.

The Schaumburg Park District offers a slew of additional programs for youngsters of all ages. "We actually put on over 1,000 events and programs a year, and have activities for all ages," says Pat Casler, director of communications and corporate relations for the park district.

Planning a Night Out

In addition to all of the child’s play, there are a variety of fun things for grownups to do and see in Schaumburg.

Need a laugh (and who doesn’t)? A testament to its status as an entertainment mecca, Schaumburg boasts two comedy venues. Improv Chicago has a location in Schaumburg, where comedians from all over the country make stops, including recent performer Chris Kattan, formerly of "Saturday Night Live".

The Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club likewise has become a Schaumburg mainstay. That club is home to the Chicago Comedy Company and offers both family-friendly shows earlier on weekend evenings and more adult-oriented performances later on Friday and Saturday nights.

In addition to comedy clubs, nightlife in Schaumburg is hopping in other ways. Night owls keep busy at various night clubs and taverns in town, such as Drink and John Barleycorn, among others. And this suburb is a major destination for dining, with more than 200 restaurants, from local standbys like the Village Tavern (famous for its chicken fingers) to the upscale Sam and Harry’s steakhouse at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel.

Prairie Center for the Arts

Those looking to be entertained can take advantage of the many offerings staged at the Prairie Center for the Arts, which is owned and operated by the village.

"The Prairie Center is unique in the sense that it serves the community as a hub for cultural activities, often using resources from within the community," explains Rob Pileckis, production supervisor for the village’s department of cultural services. "Many of the programs offered here, including the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’ and the award-winning Schaumburg Youth Orchestra, are produced in-house and draw large crowds."

In addition, says Pileckis, the Prairie Center offers performances by national acts such as Shawn Colvin and the comedy troupe The Capitol Steps. The 2013 schedule includes sold-out shows by the BoDeans, along with a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and a plethora of other national and local programs, including those from the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra and the Schaumburg Summer Theatre program. As the warm weather returns, visitors can also  enjoy outdoor summer concerts at the venue.

Beyond live performances, other forms of artistic expressions — again, many of them local — are on display at the Prairie Center. The building is home to the Herb Aigner Gallery, which features monthly exhibits from an array of artists.

In addition to the Prairie Center, there are several other ways to enjoy a cultural experience in and around Schaumburg. The Chicago Athenaeum’s International Sculpture Park is located near the village’s municipal building. The American Indian Center’s Trickster Gallery is a Native American art gallery featuring modern American Indian culture and ceremonial dance exhibits. And in nearby Palatine, the Harper College Performing Arts Center also offers a variety of programs and events throughout the year.

Spring Valley Outdoor Museum

Those who enjoy the great outdoors need look no further than Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary, a true gem of natural resources. In addition to 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes, streams and trails, this outdoor museum includes a free natural history library and a classroom for ongoing educational programs.

A working farm is on site as well. Volkening Heritage Farm — which opens March 1 after a brief winter closing — reflects the legacy of the community’s founders, and visitors can see firsthand how life was in the 1880s, through displays and presentations by docents dressed in authentic period garb.

If there is enough snow this winter, visitors can rent snow shoes and tromp through Spring Valley’s beautiful surroundings. In the summer, many locals take advantage of picnic and fire pit rentals near the sanctuary’s Merkle Log Cabin. In June, the Schaumburg Park Foundation’s annual Solstice Hop and Vine Fest takes place at Spring Valley, an event that raises funds to make improvements to the nature museum.

In addition to Spring Valley, there are at least four other conservation areas in Schaumburg that evoke the original landscape and provide green space amid the popular commercial areas of town.

Town Square & Old Schaumburg

While you can take a trip back in time at the Volkening Heritage Farm, you can get another glimpse at the village’s past by checking out Schaumburg’s Town Square.

Also known as Olde Schaumburg, Town Square is located at the corner of Roselle and Schaumburg roads. "It is a historic crossroads, and was the center of town when it was first founded," explains village president Larson.

In addition to the Town Square shopping center, there is a scenic pond and a green space where events like summer concerts are held. Among the area’s historic sites, Larson cites the cemetery at the century-old St. Peter Lutheran Church (now a museum), where headstones mark the lives of Civil War veterans and members of the founding families of Schaumburg.

The Schaumburg Township District Library is also located in this part of town. Serving Schaumburg and several other surrounding communities, the award winning library — the second largest in the state —draws an estimated 1.5 million patrons a year. Befitting its size and reputation, the library has its own café, special large sections for children teens and seniors, and art displays featuring glass sculptures by famed artist Dale Chihuly. Among its scores of programs and events throughout the year, the library hosts a series of outdoor summer concerts at the Town Square.

Olympic Park

It may be quiet this time of year, but it won’t be long before Olympic Park is jam-packed. The 72-acre site includes numerous softball and soccer fields, including eight with synthetic turf. Walking paths, garden plots, a skate park and lighted basketball courts are among the park’s other amenities.

"Olympic Park attracts tournaments from all over the region," notes Larson, adding that visitors to those games have been another boon to the community, as they often stay and eat in town while there.

Meanwhile, the indoor Sports Center operated by the Schaumburg Park District has a constant slate of games and rentals on its six volleyball courts, four basketball courts, two indoor soccer fields, indoor baseball field and batting cages. A gymnastics center is housed in the building as well.

In addition to watching kids’ games or participating in adult leagues, one can attend some minor league baseball games. The Schaumburg Boomers came to town in 2012 — prior to that, the Schaumburg Flyers were the local team. Part of the Frontier League, the Boomers will kick off their 2013 season in mid-May and offer group outings and special events through the spring and summer. The Boomers’ stadium also hosts the village’s annual Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show.

Business & Enterprise

Schaumburg may have nearly 75,000 residents, but its daytime population is decidedly higher, thanks to the thousands of people who work at Schaumburg-based businesses. Major Fortune 500 companies have a Schaumburg address, including Motorola, Thermos, Pepsi Co., Verizon, Nation Pizza, and Zurich, to name a few.

"We are lucky to have such a diverse business base in Schaumburg," says Harding. "We have a large, stable economy that the local community greatly benefits from."

The village is welcoming to small businesses, too. The local business association works closely with the village "to ensure that the balance of business is favorable to small businesses as well," says Harding. "And that is why so many startup companies flourish here."

The success of Schaumburg in the business and commercial arenas led to the development in 2006 of the Marriott Renaissance Convention Center and Hotel. With more than 500 guest rooms and suites and 42 meeting rooms, the center is the site of several shows, business and private functions, and special events held throughout the year.