By Mike Hughlett | Milwaukee-based
Roundy’s Supermarkets is slated to finally open its first Chicago-area
store in the late spring or early summer, more than three years after
it laid out aggressive expansion plans for the area.
The store is currently under construction in Arlington Heights near the Arlington Market shopping center.
Roundy’s operates 154 grocery stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota under
the names Pick n’ Save, Copps and Rainbow. In early 2007, it announced
plans to open a dozen supermarkets in the Chicago area.
The company is still sticking to its plans, but the timeline has
changed as the weak economy has stymied its progress, said Vivian King,
a Roundy’s spokeswoman.
Indeed, just over a year ago, Roundy’s said it planned to break ground
for a store at 1515 N. Halsted St. in 2009’s second quarter. Also at
that time, it said it intended to open a store in Chicago’s Bronzeville
neighborhood this fall.
While the company still plans to build those stores, ground still
hasn’t been broken at the Halsted site and Roundy’s is no longer
forecasting an opening date for the Bronzeville supermarket.
However, the company plans to break ground later this year for a store
on East Randolph St. near Michigan Avenue, King said. That store would
be slated to open in 2011.
The economic implosion over the past year or so has dried up commercial
real estate financing, impeding Roundy’s advancement, King said. The
company’s Chicago plans currently call for building out 12 Chicago
stores within four years.
Roundy’s stores in the Chicago area will operate under a new banner,
one the company doesn’t use elsewhere, King said. The name has not yet
been unveiled.
It’s not Halstead, it’s Halsted. So, when did you move to Chicago Mike?
If they need financing help to open the store on east Randolph, why don’t they talk to the Chicago Childrens Museum people about adding another floor to their building. It would be right across the street from where the CCM wanted to dig their bunker, just not in Grant Park.
A third floor, exposed on all sides to daylight and the open air above a grocery store where healthy (and if mother allows, not so healthy) snacks can be had sounds like it might just work for everyone involved. And CCM could bring in $40-$50 million to offset Roundys’ construction costs.
Really sounds like a win win win: Roundys, CCM, Grant Park.
New name? It will be called Roundy’s.. the first time the company has branded a store after its parent name.
BillyB, I believe the author is refering to the Roundy’s in the new Lakeshore East neighborhood which broke just recently ground.
BillyB, I believe the author is refering to the Roundy’s in the new Lakeshore East neighborhood which just recently broke ground.
If Pick n’ Save is a Roundy’s store, then the company is already in the Chicago area. There has been a Pick n’ Save in Markham for years.
I remember years ago when Roundys tried to go into the Chicago market.They opened a store in Arlington Heights.Itwasn’t successful because Dominics and Jewel were the home town stores.Just because Bob Mariano is the “CEO” doesn’t mean they will be successful now.If they can’t take care of their people in Milwaukee how can they expand to somewhere they are not welcome?Come on Chairman Bob-You and your people are ruining a once great company.Shame on you.