New Fuller's Station Gets Village Approval

A traditional Hinsdale family business is branching into Clarendon Hills.

The Village Board approved an ordinance Tuesday night that clears the way for Fuller’s to turn the currently vacant property at 427 Ogden Ave., formerly True Imports, into an automotive service station, tire center, and used car lot.

Fuller’s, who operates , , and  in neighboring Hinsdale, would use the existing buildings at the Ogden address with few changes. Michelin and BF Goodrich tires will be sold at the site, Doug Fuller Jr. said, and folks can drop by for full-service car repairs and 10-minute oil changes.

“It’s going to be like a mini Fuller’s station,” said Fuller, who was on hand at the Village Board's meeting Tuesday. “But it’s going to be more geared towards being a tire center.”

Fuller said the new location will offer an alternative to "the big tire dealers" nearby, like Just Tires and Costco. Fuller said used cars will also be sold in the lot.

Tuesday’s ordinance amends the property’s special use permit so that Fuller’s does not have to demolish the existing building, as the prior occupant had at one time planned. Fuller’s plans to lease the property for three years with the option to buy from current owner Drago Velkavrh after two years.

In exchange for the amended special use permit, Fuller’s agreed to, among other things, install a missing portion of the Ogden Avenue sidewalk, maintain a fence on the south lot line and landscape plantings, and limit overnight parking of cars waiting for service to the south of the building.

Being on Ogden Avenue appears to be worth following through on those conditions.

“Great vision, lots of exposure, lots of cars riding by every day,” Fuller said of the location.

The new tire center, which Fuller plans to open in mid-April, is in the middle of Clarendon Hills' Ogden Avenue Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, meaning the village might look to redevelop the plot in future years like they did with the nearby property now occupied by . 

Even so, Clarendon Hills community development director Michael Brown said the village is happy to have a new business in town.

“We don’t desire to have any of our properties vacant,” Brown said. “[Fuller's] will provide some retail sales tax and also services that the public would need.”

Fuller said moving into a TIF district is a concern, but he's been told by the village that no development at that spot is planned in the near future. 

Before the property was home to True Imports, owner Velkavrh ran his own car repair shop at the location. Brown said the land has been vacant for two or three years. 

According to The Doings Hinsdale, the new location will be operated by Colin Fuller, who currently operates the Hinsdale service center.