Prisco's Family Market Reopens After 2-Month Shutdown

AURORA, IL — After a two-month shutdown to repair damage caused by an August storm, Prisco's Family Market reopened Thursday morning.

The 99-year-old locally owned grocery store, at 1108 Prairie St., welcomed customers back at 10 a.m. Thursday, as owner Andy Guzauskas gave customers hugs and handshakes.

To celebrate the grand reopening, Prisco's is hosting a four-day, offering deals on merchandise and $1 hot dogs from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, or until supplies last.

Staff posted on Facebook on Aug. 19 to say it had to close "until further notice" due to damage from that night's storm. Firefighters were called to the building around 8:30 p.m. Aug. 18 after calls saying water was rushing into the store, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. Crews found significant damage to the rear of the building, where part of the back wall collapsed.

Prisco's dates back to 1926, when Italian immigrants Tony and Mary Prisco opened a neighborhood grocery store. Originally located on Bishop Avenue on the city's Southwest Side, the building housing the store was also the couple's home. Guzauskas, the current owner, is the great-grandson of the founders.

Shoppers were thrilled to shop at Prisco's once again, they shared in the 50-plus comments left on the store's reopening announcement.

"This post wins Facebook today!" one person said.

"Felt like old times walking the aisles," another said. "Glad you’re back!"

"I was so happy to be inside your store today shopping for all of the yummy foods that I love and only you have for sale!!" a shopper wrote. "Welcome back Prisco's Family Market and thank you for opening back up to all of us!!"

"So good to see the Prisco/Guzauskas family this morning!" someone else commented. "Every customer in the store was happy & relieved to be back in our favorite store!"

Prisco's is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sunday, when hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.