More Bolingbrook retail space was vacant in 2012 than in 2011, according to village documents. 

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Of Bolingbrook's total retail space, 7.5 percent, or 470,241 square feet, was vacant. That percentage was up from the 6.9 percent, or 430,389 square feet, that was vacant in 2011. 

The amount of available retail space in Bolingbrook changes each year. In Q1 2011, there was 6,551,894 square feet of available space. In Q1 2012, there was 6,586,855 square feet of available retail space. 

Despite the dip, Bolingbrook saw a 6 percent increase in retail sales from Q1 2011 to Q1 2012 and a 5.5 percent increase in sales tax revenue in that same time period.

Percentage of retail vacancies 

READ MORE: 

• 2013 State of the Village: Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar Talks Business
• Industry, Budget Tops 2012 State of the Village Address

At both the 2012 and 2013 State of the Village addresses, Mayor Roger Claar said he often hears concern about vacant storefronts in Bolingbrook. 

“People will say, ‘It seems like there’s a lot of empty buildings out there,’ but that’s not necessarily true,” Claar said.

“I tell people these buildings are kind of like an apartment complex. People are coming and going all the time. They need more space and move to a building down the street or somewhere else, or the business changes and they need to downsize. That’s the nature of the beast.”

At the 2013 address, Claar expressed his concern about the future of retail.

"America is taking a hit," Claar said. "People have to understand that every time they buy online they put the nail in the coffin of the brick and mortar stores." 

Claar said the success of the Promenade Bolingbrook has buffered the loss of other businesses, including major chains such as Circuit City and Borders.