I see from the latest issue of OP/FYI, the village of Oak Park newsletter, that the new Pete’s is expected to generate $546,000 per year in sales taxes. I don’t question the number, but I question why we aren’t being told the relevant number.
A significant portion of that amount will comprise sales that would have occurred at another Oak Park grocery. Sales diverted from another Oak Park store produce zero net new taxes to Oak Park. The relevant number, which I have never seen, is the anticipated amount of new-to-Oak-Park sales, comprising sales that wouldn’t otherwise have happened, and sales diverted from stores outside of Oak Park.
Don’t tell me nobody has that number. I guarantee you Pete’s did the math on how the Madison Street store will affect their Lake Street store as well as where they will find enough sales to justify a second location.
If Oak Park has those numbers, let’s see them. If Oak Park doesn’t have those numbers, the word “gullible” comes to mind.
Bob Stigger
Oak Park