Pete's Market To Be Completed By End Of 2022, Incentives Approved

TINLEY PARK, IL — The Tinley Park Village Board approved incentives for the development of a Pete's Fresh Market in town, which is slated to be complete by the end of 2022.

On Tuesday, the board approved of a tax break for the developers, where the village will share 80 percent of the TIF funds produced for a maximum of 10 years — to reimburse the eligible costs and conditions outlined in the drafted agreement that was presented. This consists of sharing a maximum of $5.5 million of TIF incremental revenue produced by this site alone, according to the site plan.

The project will be completed in three phases. Phase one of the plan is to redevelop the former Kmart building located at 16300 Harlem Ave. into a new warehouse and distribution center for the grocery chain. Phase two will construct a new building and associated retail with the property, which will sit adjacent to the warehouse. This phase will also include an expansion of the warehouse. Phase 3 involves changes to the entrances and exists along Harlem Avenue for the property.

According to the site plan, the construction on the 24.2-acre property will include the 88,608 square-foot Pete's Fresh Market, 51,831 square feet of available retail space and a 12,400 expansion on the south side of the warehouse.

"Once this project is complete, [Pete's Fresh Market] expects to hire 30 to 40, full time employees for the distribution facility, and approximately 170 more for the supermarket. They expect the additional retail tenants to create 30 to 60 jobs and generate approximately 10 million in annual gross sales," said Community Development Director Kimberly Clarke. "The project will be an enhancement to the community. It will encourage development in the area that was considered blighted, and will create over 200 jobs between all of the retail locations, distribution facility and increase property tax values and sales tax revenue."

In September 2020, the Board of Trustees approved the plan to build a new Pete's Fresh Market from scratch. The village approved of the former Kmart to becomes the newest distribution center for the business, stating its completion will be Sept. 1, 2022. On Tuesday, the board shared that the new building will be completed by Dec. 31, 2022, with the possible one-year extension for any delays, if necessary.

Pete's warehouses currently contain dry goods and non-grocery related items like fixtures and spare equipment for their stores. The chain proposed to use the vacant Kmart store to relocate items, making room for more grocery related items in their existing warehouse facilities.

Pete's will also be opening a location in Orland Park at the old Art Van building on Lagrange Road. In February, another location was opened in Matteson, and to date, it is the largest facility the family-owned company has opened.

Pete's Fresh Market is a family-owned and operated grocery store that provides fresh produce, groceries and imports, including international, gluten-free and organic products. Each location has a full-service kitchen, bakery and deli. The independent chain currently operates 16 different locations around the Chicagoland area.

Related:

• Former Kmart To Become A New Warehouse For Pete's Fresh Market | Tinley Park, IL Patch
• Tinley Park Kmart Will Close: Report | Tinley Park, IL Patch
• Pete's Fresh Market Is Coming To Orland, Taking Art Van's Spot | Orland Park, IL Patch
• Largest Southland Pete's Fresh Market Opens In Matteson | Chicago Heights, IL Patch