Emerald Acres construction well underway

MATTOON — Construction continues on the Emerald Acres sports complex and shopping center near Interstate 57 in Mattoon.

The nearly $100 million development, led by Goodman Real Estate of Cleveland, Ohio, broke ground in spring 2023. The sports complex will have eight outdoor softball fields, eight soccer fields, and a 135,000-square-foot field house with eight basketball courts and 16 volleyball courts. The new development will be aimed at hosting youth sporting events and tournaments. Multiple requests for comment to Goodman Real Estate were not returned.

In front of the sports complex will sit “The Shops at Emerald Acres,” a new shopping center that will likely feature prominent retailers such as Kohl’s, Ross, and Five Below, among others. Some of the tenants have not yet been finalized or announced.

Located on out lots on the development will sit several restaurants and stores, among which have been confirmed include Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Panda Express. Among the rumored new tenants was Texas Roadhouse, who confirmed via email in June that there would not be a new location opening in Mattoon.

Some of the stores and restaurants in the development are likely to open in the fall. According to a company spokesperson, Chick-fil-A will likely be open in fall 2024. The new restaurant will create approximately 80 to 100 new jobs.

Chipotle confirmed to Heartland Newsfeed the company is aiming for a winter 2025 opening. The Chipotle restaurant will feature a drive-up pickup window for mobile orders.

According to a general spokesperson for the company, Panda Express is eyeing a spring 2025 opening date. The new restaurant will have drive-thru services and dine-in ordering. The new restaurant will create approximately 40 to 50 new jobs.

Despite the massive influx of businesses and events that will soon occur, there is still room for future development near the site for additional businesses such as restaurants, additional retail stores, and hotels.

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Jacob Hamm

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Jacob Hamm covers a wide variety of topics across Central Illinois, such as protests, artistic and cultural events, local economic development, and the occasional column.

The Decatur, Ill. native is a 2023 graduate of Richland Community College (AA, Journalism) and a 2025 graduate of Eastern Illinois University (BA, Broadcast Journalism). He returned to Eastern Illinois in the fall of 2025 to pursue a Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies.

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