A new kind of workspace is coming to Elmhurst — and it’s designed specifically for businesses that have gotten too big for the garage but aren’t quite ready for a traditional warehouse.
Saltbox is building its first Midwest location at 934 N. Church Road in Elmhurst, transforming more than 64,000 square feet into flexible warehouse and office space for entrepreneurs, e-commerce companies and growing product-based businesses.
Construction is now underway, with the facility expected to be ready for members in early November 2026.
And instead of one company occupying the massive warehouse, the building will be divided into more than 100 smaller spaces businesses can use to store inventory, pack orders and operate their companies.
What Is Being Built in Elmhurst?
Saltbox's new Elmhurst location will occupy approximately 64,086 square feet at 934 N. Church Road.
Inside, plans call for 114 private warehouse and office suites.
But this isn't a traditional self-storage facility.
Saltbox calls its concept co-warehousing.
Think of it somewhat like coworking — except instead of primarily sharing desks and conference rooms, businesses get private warehouse or office suites while sharing the expensive infrastructure needed to run a product-based company.
That includes loading docks, shipping equipment, package receiving and other operational resources.
The Warehouse Suites Can Be Surprisingly Small
One of the biggest differences between Saltbox and a traditional industrial warehouse is the size of the spaces available.
At the Elmhurst location, warehouse and office suites are expected to range from approximately 88 square feet to 1,809 square feet.
That creates options for businesses at very different stages of growth.
A small entrepreneur moving inventory out of a garage might only need one of the smallest spaces.
A larger operation shipping products every day could use a substantially larger suite capable of handling more inventory and employees.
Saltbox says the spaces can accommodate operations ranging from roughly four pallets to as many as 125 pallets, depending on the suite.
What Do Businesses Get?
The private suites are only part of the concept.
Members will also have access to shared infrastructure throughout the Elmhurst facility, including:
Loading docks
Mail and package receiving
Daily carrier pickups
Warehouse equipment
Conference rooms
A content studio
Kitchen and community areas
Printing
High-speed Wi-Fi
In-suite power
Security
On-site operational support
Instead of every small business having to lease a large industrial building and install its own infrastructure, multiple businesses can share those resources.
That's what makes the concept particularly interesting for e-commerce companies.
It's Built for Businesses That Have Outgrown the Garage
Saltbox is targeting a very specific type of entrepreneur.
Imagine someone who starts selling products online from home.
At first, a spare bedroom works.
Then inventory starts taking over the basement.
Eventually the garage fills up with boxes, packing supplies and outgoing orders.
The next traditional step might be leasing thousands of square feet of industrial space — potentially requiring a long-term commitment and significantly higher overhead.
Saltbox is trying to create something between those two options.
Businesses can move into a private warehouse suite while still having access to professional loading docks, shipping services and operational infrastructure.
That could make the Elmhurst location particularly useful for e-commerce brands, wholesalers, consumer-product companies and other small businesses that physically store and ship inventory.
Why Elmhurst?
The location is strategically positioned for logistics.
Saltbox's new facility is near the I-290 and I-294 interchange, providing relatively easy access to major highways throughout the Chicago area.
It's also a short drive from O'Hare International Airport and close to the massive concentration of warehouses, manufacturers and logistics companies around Elk Grove Village.
For a business shipping products throughout Chicagoland — or across the country — those transportation connections matter.
Elmhurst also places Saltbox within the larger DuPage County business community while keeping the facility relatively close to Chicago.
Saltbox says the Chicago market had been one of its most requested expansion areas before the company selected Elmhurst.
Construction Is Now Underway
This project has moved beyond an announcement.
Krusinski Construction Company is currently completing the buildout of the Elmhurst facility.
The project includes infrastructure for a modular wall system, allowing the warehouse to be divided into flexible spaces for different businesses.
Crews are also renovating the existing office area and making improvements to restrooms, building infrastructure and back-of-house spaces.
Plans additionally call for a climate-controlled environment and air purification system, helping create better storage conditions for products kept inside the facility.
Ware Malcomb is serving as the project's architect.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in early November 2026.
This Will Be Saltbox's First Midwest Location
The Elmhurst project represents a significant expansion for Saltbox.
The company already operates co-warehousing facilities in markets including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, Seattle and the Washington, D.C. area.
But Elmhurst will be its first location in the Midwest.
Saltbox has said the Chicago-area facility could also be the first of multiple locations planned for the region.
That makes Elmhurst something of a test case for the company's Midwest expansion.
If demand from Chicago-area entrepreneurs is strong, we could eventually see the concept expand elsewhere around the region.
Why This Project Is Different
When we talk about new development in the western suburbs, the biggest headlines usually involve apartments, restaurants, retail centers or enormous industrial warehouses.
This project is a little different.
Instead of building another warehouse for one major company, Saltbox is creating infrastructure that could potentially support dozens of smaller businesses under the same roof.
That could include companies that started locally and are now reaching the point where operating from home simply doesn't work anymore.
And because the Elmhurst facility provides smaller private spaces alongside shared logistics infrastructure, those businesses may be able to grow without immediately taking on a traditional industrial lease.
Could This Help Local Small Businesses Grow?
Potentially, yes.
One of the biggest challenges for a growing product-based business is the awkward stage between running a company from home and operating a full warehouse.
Too much inventory can overwhelm a home quickly.
But leasing thousands of square feet before a company needs it can also create unnecessary costs.
Flexible warehouse concepts attempt to fill that gap.
For the western suburbs, having that option locally could make it easier for entrepreneurs to keep their operations in DuPage County as they grow rather than searching farther away for suitable industrial space.
FAQs
What is Saltbox?
Saltbox operates flexible co-warehousing facilities designed primarily for e-commerce companies and other product-based businesses. Members can rent private warehouse or office suites while sharing logistics and operational infrastructure.
Where is Saltbox opening in Elmhurst?
The facility is located at 934 N. Church Road in Elmhurst, Illinois.
How large is the Elmhurst facility?
The project involves approximately 64,086 square feet of warehouse and office space.
How many spaces will it have?
Saltbox says the Elmhurst location will contain 114 warehouse and office suites.
How large are the individual suites?
Available spaces are expected to range from approximately 88 square feet to 1,809 square feet.
When will Saltbox Elmhurst open?
Construction is currently scheduled for completion in early November 2026, with the facility expected to begin serving members afterward.
Is this Saltbox's first Illinois location?
Yes. Elmhurst will be Saltbox's first Illinois and first Midwest location.
Final Thoughts
A 64,000-square-foot warehouse coming to Elmhurst might sound like another typical industrial project.
But what's happening inside this one makes it considerably different.
Instead of housing one large company, Saltbox's new Elmhurst facility will create 114 smaller warehouse and office suites designed to help entrepreneurs and growing product businesses make the jump from working at home to operating in a professional logistics environment.
With construction underway and completion targeted for early November, Elmhurst is about to become the home of Saltbox's first Midwest operation.
And if the concept catches on here, it may not be the last one we see around Chicagoland.
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