Wal-Mart Construction Under Way, Neighbors' Questions Persist: PHOTOS

Wal-Mart’s newest “Neighborhood Market” grocery store is under construction in East Lakeview, and although they plan to begin hiring soon for an early 2013 opening, area organizations are still unhappy the retail behemoth is setting up in the neighborhood.

The new store has broken down the wall between the former World Market and PetCo locations on the 2800 block of North Broadway to create a more than 33,000-square-foot grocery store. However, Maureen Martino, the executive director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, says although it’s her job to help draw business to the neighborhood, she’s still against the new store.

“I think it’s about transparency,” Martino began. “Long ago when they proposed the new sites, they promised the city they were coming into food deserts, and that was their way of getting into the urban markets where grocery stores aren’t plentiful. That’s not true, especially when the most densely populated area outside downtown is here. We have no need for this.”

Martino also criticized Wal-Mart’s business practices and secretive nature when attempting to secure the location in Lake View.

And it’s no secret that the area is overgrown with places to purchase groceries. Both Trader Joe’s and The Market Place are located on Diversey Parkway less than two blocks from Wal-Mart’s new Neighborhood Market. In addition, Walgreen’s has already started construction a two-story mega-Walgreens literally one building away, where it also plans to sell some groceries.

Let Patch save you time. Get local stories like these delivered right to your inbox or smartphone with our free newsletter. Fast signup here.

Bennett Lawson, Alderman Tom Tunney’s (44^th) chief of staff, says residents are still driving to larger area stories like Mariano’s in Roscoe Village and Jewel-Osco, so the demand for groceries still exists.

“Competition is what it is,” Lawson said. “We’re fortunate to have it. And one of the complaints that we’ve heard from constituents is that The Market Place has made a killing since Dominic’s burned down seven years ago. They’re smaller, and their prices are a little higher. They are concerned about Wal-Mart coming… We’ll see if there’s room for everyone or not. We think probably there is."

Some neighbors have also wondered how the Wal-Mart impacts the rumored site of a new Mariano's grocery store at 3030 N. Broadway, Lawson added.

While the deal to construct the Mariano’s is at an indefinite standstill, according to both Lawson and Martino, Wal-Mart is doing its best to get to know the community.

A neighborhood advisory group has been chosen with help from Tunney’s office to give Wal-Mart some key insight to the Lake View community. And while Martino notes that nobody from the area business community was asked to join the group, she agrees it’s a step in the right direction.

“Wal-Mart is going to have a hiring site in that building to hire locally (later this year),” Lawson said. “They’re also doing a community advisory group with a small group of local people who can give feedback on corporate giving, community give-back, product mix, operations like loading and unloading, hours, marketing and other things to help them understand what they’re getting into in Lake View, which is good.”

Another Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market already exists in Chicago’s Presidential Towers in the West Loop.