Mariano's Fresh Market is about to expand its footprint in the Chicagoland area in a major way.
The grocery store's Milwaukee-based parent company Roundy's Inc., announced Monday that it has agreed to purchase 11 Dominick's stores that are scheduled to close within the month.
The affected stores include:
- Park Ridge: 1900 S. Cumberland Ave.
- Western Springs: No. 14 Garden Market Street
- Chicago: 3145 S. Ashland Ave.
- Chicago: 2021 W. Chicago Ave.
- Northfield: 1822 Willow Rd.
- Westchester: 3020 S. Wolf Rd.
- Buffalo Grove: 450 Half Day Rd.
- Chicago: 5201 N. Sheridan Rd.
- Gurnee: 6655 Grand Ave.
- Aurora: 3025 E. New York St.
- Shorewood: 950 Brook Forest Ave.
According to Crain's Chicago, Roundy's will take over five of the stores in January and convert them to Mariano's stores within 30-45 days. Five other stores will convert over to Mariano's in early March, and the Westchester store will transition later in the year after a more extensive renovation.
Michelle Rossi has been a dedicated shopper at the Dominick's at Sheridan and Foster for seven years, but she's excited about the change that's about to come.
"I'm really excited, my neighborhood association sent out an e-blast. We're getting a Marianos! It's very exciting," Rossi said.
Mia Adanski is also looking forward to a new grocerty store option.
"I have a Mariano's where I work downtown, and I used to drag groceries on the bus, so now I don't have to do that anymore," Adanski said.
Mariano's officials say 10,000 jobs will be created by the new stores and that Dominick's employees will need to reapply for their jobs.
Dominick's parent company, Safeway, decided early this year to pull its 72 stores out of the Chicago market because of poor sales.
Jewel-Osco has agreed to buy four stores.
Crain's also reports that Whole Foods has emerged as a potential buyer for seven Dominick's stores. Whole Foods would not confirm, but sources say the following stores are in the upscale grocer's sights:
- Chicago: 255 E. Grand Ave.
- Chicago: 1 N. Halsted St.
- Chicago: 6009 N. Broadway St.
- Chicago: 959 W. Fullerton Ave.
- Evanston: 2748 Green Bay Road
- Elmhurst: 215 S. Route 83
- Willowbrook: 6300 S. Robert Kingery Hwy. (existing store would move into new location)
Any unsold Dominick's stores will close by Dec. 28.
