Auto shop buys Mar Ray site; costume shop scouting new locale

The fate of more than 200 Santa Claus and Easter Bunny costumes is secure with the news that Mar Ray Costume Shop in Palatine is relocating.

More than a year after the For Sale sign was first erected, Mar Ray has accepted an offer from neighboring Casey Automotive to buy the property at 154 and 160 N. Northwest Highway in order to grow its operation.

A new retail location for the costume shop is currently being scouted in the Palatine area, according to Mar Ray owner Marge Olszewski's daughter, Carol Dick.

Following the closing, which Casey expects to take place any day, work will begin to expand the 25-year-old car repair facility.

"We had a long outstanding joke with Mar Ray, 'If you ever sell it, we'll buy it,' because we outgrew our space a while ago," said owner Steve Casey, who also runs stores in Arlington Heights and Streamwood. "Now we have the opportunity."

The extra space will accommodate four additional service bays for a total of 12, as well as environmentally friendly features including solar panels and a system that heats the shop using recycled waste oil from the serviced cars. The parking lot also will be expanded.

Casey initially wanted to save one of the two Mar Ray buildings, but decided the necessary renovations would prove too costly.

Following the buildings' demolition, Casey estimates construction to last about 120 days. The Palatine council last week lauded the plan and unanimously approved it.

The deal would likely have come together sooner, but Casey said he wasn't willing to pay the initial asking price of more than $1.5 million. He waited and ultimately paid about $700,000 for the property, which real estate brokers said is especially attractive due to the high volume of traffic and on-site traffic light.

Casey said he's enjoyed a good relationship with Olszewski, who started the business in 1959 and moved it to Palatine in 1978. He said he'll give Mar Ray as much time as it needs to leave, but hopes it's a matter of weeks.

Dick emphasized that Mar Ray is relocating and not closing. She said that while the economy has hurt many retail businesses, the shop had a fruitful Easter and remains busy outfitting school productions.

"We're looking at properties and will be all set and ready to go when Halloween season rolls around," Dick said.