MATTOON — Earth work has been proceeding on the planned Emerald Acres Sports Connection’s fieldhouse and on a related shopping center at the southwest corner of Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 16 in Mattoon.

“If you drive by there, you will see a lot of dirt is moving. The indoor facility is under construction. They got the building pad down and are pouring the footings for the building. They are targeting that to be open and hosting tournaments by fall of 2024,” said Blake Pierce, president of Emerald Acres owner Mattoon Sports Complex Inc.

During a talk Thursday to the Mattoon Emerging Leaders, Pierce also said contractors have begun moving earth for a large shopping center in the area east of Home Depot. He said the planned sports complex has helped with recruiting approximately 140,000 square feet of retail space to the center, primarily soft good retailers, some fast casual eateries and a sit-down restaurant.

“I would say from a retail standpoint we are probably in pretty good shape,” Pierce said. “I think we have a good mix.”

The Mattoon Emerging Leaders hosted this lunchtime presentation at the new Warren James Winery, which brothers Blake and Cole Pierce of Mattoon opened in late July. This provided an opportunity for this community organization for young professionals to also hear an update about the winery at 5600 Lerna Road.

Emerald Acres will be built on 110 acres donated by the Mattoon-based Rural King company, which plans to open 40 adjacent acres it owns to the shopping center and other related retail development. The complex’s first phase will the fieldhouse with basketball and volleyball courts, and the second phase will be the outdoor facility with ball diamonds and sports fields. 

“We are targeting some of those businesses to be opening at the end of 2024. Some will be in the spring of 2025,” said Blake Pierce, who is finance director for Mattoon-based Rural King. “We are continuing to market that for the available spaces that we have.”

While prospective retailers in the shopping center have not announced their plans yet, the Goodman Real Estate Services Group has posted artist renderings of this center on its Emerald Acres webpage. These renderings envision Kohl’s, Famous Footwear, Michaels, Bealls Florida clothing, Five Below and Ross Dress for Less as possible tenants.

“What the sports complex has done is it has provided an additional demand driver of visitors to the community that has kind of pushed us up the list (of national retailers)” Pierce said. He added that they have been struggling to recruit hotels for commercial area.

Regarding Warren James, the winery has begun hosting live music on a regular basis and special events. The site offered a Fall Shop & Sip event on Nov. 4 and is preparing to offer a Thanksgiving Eve event on Wednesday with a performance by Andy Rueter.

Cole Pierce, who oversees the winery, has been offering wraps, flatbread pizzas and more from the restaurant there while preparing to introduce new menu items in the near future.

Warren James offers a full bar with a variety of wines that Cole Pierce and his brother have selected from around the country. Cole Pierce said he plans to start production of wine there by spring 2024 using fruit from off site, and then use his vineyard’s own grapes once they have matured to make wine in 2025.

For Mattoon Emerging Leaders’ next gathering, marketing director Kasey Considine said this recently revived organization plans to hold a New Year’s Day party one evening in early January and kick off a recruiting drive. She said updated will be posted on the group’s page on Facebook.