Golden Corridor

The Golden Corridor is a term used to describe the area around the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (Interstate 90) in the Chicago metropolitan area. [ [http://www.hanoverparkillinois.org/EconomicDevelopment/Demographics.htm Demographics, Hanover Park, Illinois (IL) ] ] It is coined as such since the corridor generates a "gold" mine of economic profit for communities in the area. Several Fortune 500 companies, office buildings, industrial buildings, exhibition and entertainment centers, hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants are located along the Golden Corridor.

Cities and villages

Cities and villages located within the scope of the Golden Corridor include:
*Chicago
*Park Ridge
*Des Plaines
*Rosemont
*Mount Prospect
*Arlington Heights
*Elk Grove Village
*Bensenville
*Wood Dale
*Itasca
*Roselle
*Schaumburg
*Hoffman Estates
*Rolling Meadows
*Palatine
*South Barrington
*Streamwood
*Hanover Park
*Bartlett
*Elgin
*East Dundee
*West Dundee
*Sleepy Hollow
*Gilberts
*Carpentersville
*Algonquin
*Lake in the Hills
*Huntley
*Hampshire

Major companies

Several important companies are headquartered in or have a significant presence in the corridor. They include:
*Sears Holdings, a major department store chain headquartered in Hoffman Estates
*Motorola, a telecommunications company headquartered in Schaumburg
*United Airlines, a major airline company headquartered in Elk Grove Village
*Affiliated Computer Services, an information technology outsourcing company with offices in Schaumburg
*ACNielsen, a marketing research firm headquartered in Schaumburg
*United Stationers, an office products distributor headquartered in Des Plaines
*U.S. Robotics, a manufacturer of modems headquartered in Schaumburg
*Zurich Financial Services, regional offices in Schaumburg
*Fifth Third Bank branch offices in the Continental Towers in Arlington Heights
*Chase Bank branch offices in Elgin
*Allstate, an insurance company with a branch in South Barrington, and headquartered out of Northbrook
*AT&T, telecommunications company with a large regional office in Hoffman Estates
*True Value, a hardware store chain headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
*Bally Total Fitness, a fitness center chain headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
*U.S. Cellular, a mobile communications service provider headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
*uBid, an online auction platform company headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
*PepsiAmericas regional offices in Rolling Meadows
*XL Capital, A Corporate Insurance Company headquartered in Bermuda, Has Regional offices in Schaumburg
*Siemens Medical Solutions, regional offices in Hoffman Estates
*FANUC Robotics, regional offices in Hoffman Estates
*Mori Seiki, U.S. headquarters in Rolling Meadows
*NEC Display Solutions of America, regional offices in Itasca
*Omron, regional offices in Schaumburg
*Popular, Inc., regional offices in Rosemont
*STMicroelectronics, regional offices in Schaumburg
*Mazak, a Japanese machine tool builder with regional offices in Schaumburg
*THK, a Japanese machinery manufacturer with its U.S. headquarters in Schaumburg
*First Midwest Bank, a bank headquartered in Itasca
*Harris Bank, a Chicago-based bank with regional offices in Schaumburg
*Comcast, a cable and telecommunications provider with regional offices in Schaumburg
*Chicago Tribune, a Chicago-based newspaper with regional offices in Schaumburg
*The Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper with headquarters in Arlington Heights and regional offices in Elgin and a printing center in Schaumburg
*Office Max, a Naperville-based office supply store with regional offices in Itasca
*Sprint Nextel, a telecommunications company with regional offices in Rosemont and Itasca
*Verizon Wireless, a telecommunications company with regional offices in Elgin
*Safeco, an insurance company with regional offices in Schaumburg
*Experian (EMS - Experian Marketing Services) a credit information group with regional offices in Schaumburg
*CareerBuilder.com, a career services company headquartered in Chicago (O'Hare community area)
*Pace, suburban Chicago's bus transit provider headquartered in Arlington Heights
*PromoWorks, a marketing services company headquartered in Schaumburg
* [http://www.webergrill.com Weber Grill] factory in Huntley
*Regional offices for several major home developers including Pulte and Lennar
*Nexicore, a Nationwide onsite computer contractor with offices in Des Plaines
*InstallShield, A Software Company for developing Software Installation Programs, with Headquarters in Schaumburg
*Expansive industrial parks in Elk Grove Village and Elgin

Educational institutions

A variety of higher educational institutions are located along the Golden Corridor, ranging from branch locations to community colleges to four year colleges.
*Judson College, a 4-year college located in Elgin
*Harper College, a very large community college located at Roselle Road and Algonquin Road in Palatine
*Roosevelt University on McConnor Parkway in Schaumburg
*NIU Hoffman Estates, the Hoffman Estates branch of Northern Illinois University, located at Beverly Road and I-90
*American InterContinental University has its Online campus offices in Hoffman Estates
*DePaul University branch in Rolling Meadows
*Olivet Nazarene University branch in Rolling Meadows
*National Louis University branch in Elgin

hopping centers

Ranging from regional indoor malls to chic lifestyle centers, "the Golden Corridor" is a bustling center of retail activity. Major shopping centers include:
*Woodfield Mall, among the Top 10 largest malls in North America, and the largest in Illinois. Located at Golf Road and Interstate 290, just south of Interstate 90
*The Streets of Woodfield, an outdoor mall of about 30 stores adjacent to Woodfield Mall.
* [http://www.primeoutlets.com/cntrdefault.asp?cntrid=1028 Huntley Prime Outlets] , a 50-store outlet mall located at Route 47 and I-90 in Huntley
*Algonquin Commons and the Algonquin Galleria, the largest outdoor mall complex in Illinois. Located on Randall Road, 5 miles north of I-90, in Algonquin
*Spring Hill Mall, a regional mall at Route 31 and Route 72, a couple miles north of I-90, in West Dundee
*One of two Chicago area IKEA locations in Schaumburg
*Cabela's in Hoffman Estates

Entertainment and exhibition centers

From major arenas to convention centers to theaters to gambling centers, the Golden Corridor is a thriving entertainment center. Major facilities include:
*Sears Centre, a 10,000 seat arena at Beverly Road and Interstate 90 in Hoffman Estates
*Allstate Arena, a 16,000 seat arena at Mannheim Road and Interstate 90 in Rosemont
*The Rosemont Theater, a 4,000 seat theater in Rosemont
*Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont
*Schaumburg Convention Center and Renaissance Hotel, a large convention center and hotel complex located at Meacham Road and I-90 in Schaumburg
*Medieval Times, a dinner-theater located at Roselle Road and Interstate 90 in Schaumburg
*Arlington Park, a major horse track in Arlington Heights, along Illinois Route 53, just 2 miles north of Interstate 90
*Grand Victoria Riverboat, Illinois' most-profitable casino, located in downtown Elgin, just a couple miles south of Interstate 90
*Alexian Field, a minor league ballpark located on Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg, a few miles south of Interstate 90

Healthcare facilities

Located within five miles of the Northwest Tollway are a variety of major hospitals, including:
*Sherman Hospital: off Illinois Route 25, a mile south of Interstate 90 in Elgin
*St. Joseph's Hospital: off Randall Road, 3 miles south of Interstate 90 in Elgin
*St. Alexius Hospital: on Barrington Road, a half-mile south of Interstate 90 in Hoffman Estates
*Northwest Community Hospital: off Central Road, a mile north of Interstate 90 in Arlington Heights
*Alexian Brothers Hospital: on Biesterfield Road, 3 miles south of Interstate 90 in Elk Grove Village
*Advocate Lutheran General Hospital: a major hospital and trauma center on Dempster Street, 4 miles north of Interstate 90 in Park Ridge

Transportation infrastructure

*O'Hare International Airport, "the busiest airport in the world", located off Interstate 190, a spur of Interstate 90.
*Metra's STAR Line, a proposed commuter rail line slated to operate along the Golden Corridor of Interstate 90, extending from O'Hare International Airport westward to the Prairie Stone Business Park in Hoffman Estates, with several stops in between.

Hotels and restaurants

Nearly every national hotel and restaurant chain can be found along the corridor, as well as numerous independently owned and local chains.

The highest concentration of hotels can be found in the Schaumburg/Arlington Heights and Rosemont/O'Hare areas, with secondary concentrations in Hoffman Estates, Elgin, and Itasca.

Trivia

Additionally, McDonald's, home of the "golden" arches, opened its first franchise in Des Plaines, a community located along the "golden" corridor.

ee also

*Woodfield Mall, the crown jewel of the Golden Corridor
*Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, located along Interstate 88; a counterpart to the Golden Corridor
*List of technology centers
*List of edge cities

References