Thank goodness we moved to Evanston, where people are allowed to live and shop even if they are disabled, multicultural or even, heaven forbid, plus sized. I bet Oak Park would be fine if The Petite Sophisticate wanted to move in...

Plus-sized retailer doesn't fit: suburb
    Last year, a national real estate Web site named Oak Park one of America's "sexiest" suburbs.
    Some now wonder whether a desire to foster that image was a factor in the village board blocking a women's plus-sized clothing store from moving into a new retail building in the heart of its downtown shopping district.
    The near west suburb is the target of a recent lawsuit, filed after officials decided Lane Bryant doesn't fit the "kind and quality" of shops desired for the building.
    In a downtown known for its trendy shops and clothing stores, Village President David Pope said officials want "a more broad-based retailer" to fill the building rather than one with "a niche market."
    Lane Bryant specializes in clothing for women sizes 14 to 28.
    "We want to expand the market of people who are going to come downtown and spend dollars at other retailers in that district," Pope said, adding the village is "very interested" in having Lane Bryant come to Oak Park -- just in "a different location."
    But RSC & Associates, which has spent millions on the new retail building, says it's curious that the village would allow some women's clothing stores to come downtown, but not others.
    Village Trustee Martha Brock, a Lane Bryant shopper, said village leaders "need to have a broader perspective on the type of clientele" desired downtown and to be less concerned about "image."

Want store 'befitting of ... the village'
    She said the village's denial "does raise some concerns [because] the clientele of this particular store are mostly on the heavy side," Brock said. "But for the amount of money all women spend on apparel, it would be a disservice to the community to have such a myopic view on things."
    Pope said it's "ridiculous" to suggest the denial has anything to do with plus-sized shoppers -- but developer Rich Curto said he's been given no explanation for why Lane Bryant isn't welcome, opening the door for speculation.
    Curto wants the store to open in a building at 1116 Lake St., being touted as "the first newly built retail business" Oak Park has seen in the last 10 years.
    Because the village previously owned the property, it took the rare step of reserving the right to have final say over any retail tenants in the private property.
    In a letter to RSC, Oak Park deputy village manager M. Ray Wiggins says that while village officials are "greatly encouraged by the appearance and obvious quality" of the new building, Lane Bryant is not "the kind and quality" of store they want there and they hope RSC can find a store more "befitting of ... the village."

'A great economic opportunity'
    "The issue for us really is one entirely of fostering economic vitality in the community," he said, though Brock countered a Lane Bryant would provide "a great economic opportunity" for the village.
    The lawsuit asks a judge to allow the store to open and award the developer $2.4 million in damages for its losses on the deal.
    Lane Bryant spokeswoman Gayle Coolick said she can't remember the store ever being denied a space at any retail space.
    "Usually, shops are begging us to come because we're a tremendous traffic driver," she said. "I would think the ladies of Oak Park would be thrilled for us to come."