New restaurant coming to downtown Belleville

Plans are in motion to bring a new, original-concept restaurant to a downtown Belleville space that once housed a sandwich shop.

Developers Mark and Renae Eichholz of MRB Development LLC confirmed plans to renovate the former Quiznos location at 200 E. Main St. to make room for the Double Barrel Lodge.

Aldermen on Belleville’s Finance Committee unanimously approved a development agreement that would put the site into an enterprise zone. That allows the developers to purchase construction materials without paying sales taxes if they buy them in Illinois.

The full City Council will vote on the proposed agreement during its regular meeting Tuesday.

If the agreement is approved, the renovations planned in the space will force the ouster of Junction Coffee & Frozen Yogurt, which currently occupies the western part of the storefront. No new space for Junction has been identified.

According to the development agreement, MRB will spend at least $400,000 to renovate the property. In order to take advantage of the sales tax breaks, which city figures indicate could reach $12,150 in savings for the developers, the restaurant would be required to create five full-time jobs in the first year of operation and do at least $500,000 in sales subject to sales taxes.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "New restaurant coming to downtown Belleville."