Retail Transformation in McHenry: Inside the Grand Opening at the Former RoomPlace Site
Shoppers driving along North Richmond Road will notice a major shift this week as Burlington opens its doors at 2221 North Richmond Road. The off-price retailer officially takes over a retail footprint on McHenry’s west side, bringing fresh foot traffic to a commercial corridor that lost a major anchor late last year.
The site sits on an outlot anchored by Meijer and The Home Depot, directly across from McHenry Towne Center. For over a decade, this specific location housed furniture retailer The RoomPlace, which originally opened inside a converted Borders bookstore in March 2013. That chapter ended in late 2024 when the Chicago-based furniture chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leaving behind a vacant commercial giant until McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett announced Burlington’s incoming arrival back in April.
What Shoppers Can Expect Inside the New Store
The newly minted McHenry location represents the 56th Burlington store in Illinois. Doors officially open on Friday morning following a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 8:45 a.m.
To draw crowds for opening weekend, the company is handing out $10 bonus cards to the first 100 adult shoppers age 18 and older on both Friday and Saturday. Operating hours are set for 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Inside, customers will encounter Burlington’s redesigned store format. The layout features wider, more organized aisles, bold signage, and fully stocked departments spanning women’s apparel and accessories, menswear, children’s clothing, footwear, beauty, baby items, toys, seasonal home decor, and pet care products.
Burlington Stores CEO Michael O’Sullivan emphasized the corporate strategy behind these physical updates. “Opening a new, modernized store in McHenry is an exciting step for us as we continue expanding Burlington locations nationwide,” O’Sullivan noted.
Retailer Donates to Local Elementary School
Beyond retail shelves, the grand opening brings a direct injection of funding into local education. During Friday’s morning ceremony, the retailer will present a $5,000 donation to teachers at Riverwood Elementary School, which operates under McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15.
The donation comes through the retailer’s long-standing partnership with the national nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org and will be used to provide students with classroom materials.
This opening is part of a much larger national footprint push. Burlington plans to launch at least 110 net new stores across the country this year, aggressively pushing its modernized layout. More than half of the company’s existing nationwide stores have already been converted to this refreshed format, with the remainder slated for completion by the end of the year.
While the closure of The RoomPlace followed its bankruptcy proceedings, the arrival of a discount brand marks the opening of a new store in McHenry. Job seekers can still apply for remaining positions online as the store ramps up its daily operations.
