CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --Displaced vendors for the discount mall in Little Village may soon be back in business.
25th ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez announced that a verbal agreement has been reached between at least 40 of the vendors, the city, and the owner of a vacant building at 51st and Kedzie in Gage Park.
"I'm glad to report there's some good progress on this-some good commitments and a step in the right direction," he said.
While the goal now is to get a contract for the vendors in writing, the city has committed to $500,000 for the vendors to split for lost revenue and associated costs.
The new building is a long vacant K-Mart which will need some cleaning and repairs, but the Alderman hopes to have vendors in the building within 4 to 5 weeks.
Vendor Juan Zarate said that he is optimistic about the new location and looking forward to an end to the ordeal. His parents opened their store in 1990.
"This has been a real difficult process. It's been really tough this last year or two not knowing what's gonna happen," he said. "We were left in the dark."
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