Oak Lawn Mariano's Store Could Be Divested Ahead Of Merger

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn could lose it's Mariano's supermarket after landing on a list of 35 Illinois Jewel and Mariano’s stores to be divested ahead of a proposed merger between grocery chain giants Kroger’s and Albertsons.

Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos, the parent companies of Mariano's Fresh Markets and Jewel-Osco, respectively, announced their $24.6 billion merger in October 2022, and both agreed to sell stores and other facilities to C&S Wholesale Grocers.

The New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, whose subsidiaries include Piggly Wiggly, will purchase the stores as part of the merger agreement. Kroger and Albertsons will sell almost 600 stores and other facilities across the United States. Together, they currently operate almost 5,000 stores throughout the country.

The Mariano’s Fresh Markets Store, 11100 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn, opened September 2014 and was leased to anchor the then-new Stony Creek Promenade commercial development. Oak Lawn village officials had hoped having the Mariano’s store would lure other retailers to the development.

Local Jewel-Osco stores to be sold to C&S if the deal goes through include 12001 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip, and 12803 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights.

Kroger and Albertsons shared the list of closures ahead of a trial in August that is expected to determine the deal's outcome, according to a report from Crain's Chicago Business. The divestiture comes after the Federal Trade Commission previously blocked the deal.

Read more about the proposed divestiture.

Patch editor Emily Rosca contributed to this report.