Mariano's Coming to 95th Street: Upscale Grocer Building in Evergreen Park

By Lorraine Swanson

It’s official. Mariano’s Fresh Market is coming to Evergreen Park and could complete construction and be open for business in December 2014.

Mayor James Sexton announced that the village had inked an economic development agreement with the super grocer. The 70,000-square-foot store will be built on the former Webb Ford site at 2601 W. 95th St.

In February, Oak Lawn announced a similar agreement with Mariano’s to anchor the long-litigated property at Cicero Avenue and 111th Street. 

“I’m very proud and happy,” Sexton said. “Maybe some of the press will write about this. [Mariano’s] was coming here long before Oak Lawn. Who would have thought that Mariano’s might consider this small, little town.”

The Evergreen Park store is the fourteenth to open in the Chicago region that faces some tough competition from Wal-Mart, Target and Meijer, which offer steeply discounted grocery items as a way to keep customers shopping for appliances, home decor and apparel. Milwaukee-based Roundy’s, which owns Mariano’s Fresh Market, hopes to open 25 to 30 of the upscale supermarkets over the next several years.

Mariano’s Fresh Market distinguishes itself among Chicago’s crowded grocery market by offering an “experience” in addition to toilet paper and peanut butter. The grocer boasts prepared gourmet foods, a wide selection or organic veggies and fruit, a full-fledged deli and bakery, craft beer, wine and cheese bar and a cafe with a fireplace.

Sexton said the supermarket would start construction before the end of the year. The mayor hoped “another couple of stores” would follow Mariano’s, which tends to attract high-end retailers, into the old Webb Ford site.

“A lot of work done by these [village] trustees is what got there here,” Sexton said. “They worked hard to get [Mariano’s] to come here and they work hard everyday to keep economic development going for this village.”

Over the past year Evergreen Park has been aggressive about attracting new businesses and developing open land. Menards opened in April on Western Avenue and a Meijer grocery story and other retail chains are expected to open very soon in the development along Western Avenue at 91st Street.  

Evergreen also added a Culver's at Kedzie Avenue and 95th Street last month. The internal stores of the Plaza shut down last month, Carson's, Planet Fitness and Applebee's remain open, and a sale and redevelopment plan for that property could be announced soon.

All of this development has left some 19th Ward residents with concerns over increased traffic and resentment over the destruction of the former Evergreen Country Club land. 

-Dan Lambert contributed