Business & Tech

What Should Replace Dominick's in Oak Park? Mariano's a Favorite (Comments)

Readers respond on Facebook: Mariano's Fresh Market a favorite for a new grocery store option in Oak Park.

It appears that within a year Dominick's will be no more. With two locations in the area—259 Lake St. in Oak Park and 7501 North Ave. in River Forest, shoppers will have the choice of the less-expensive Jewel-Osco and the upscale Whole Foods Market in River Forest. 

But what if they want something that serves as a middle ground between the two?

The Chicago Tribune reports that the grocery store's parent company, Safeway, wants to pull out of the Chicago market within the year. As competition from both higher-end and discount grocery stores mount, the chain has been losing its share of the market, according to the report. 

The report indicates that the most likely outcome is that the existing stores would be bought up by several different chains and not one buyer. 

Oak Park Business Service Manager Loretta Daly said Friday that other companies have expressed interest in the 259 Lake St. property, but could not disclose further specifics. 

"We recognize, and the industry recognizes, that (259 Lake St.) is a significant location. There's not a lot of competition around there," said Daly.

She said the village anticipates and hopes to see a new ownership scenario play out for the Lake Street location. 

In a Facebook post on the Oak Park-River Forest Patch page, readers say they want to see a Mariano's Fresh Market open in place of Dominick's. Mariano's expanded quickly over the past year or two to the Chicago area, with locations in suburbs including Arlington Heights and Elmhurst and multiple Chicago stores.

Read the full story from the Chicago Tribune. 

What would you like to see in place of Dominick's? Tell us in the comments below.


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