So Mariano's CEO Bob Mariano gets his tour of South Shore checking out sites for a potential future store in the community. One day we won't have that far to go for a Mariano's:Hairston took Roundy's CEO Bob Mariano on a two-hour tour of seven prospective construction sites in her ward, and Mariano promised to get back to the city’s Department of Planning and Development with a decision in a few days.So am I reading this right, she wants Mariano's to look at the old Sears store site near 79th & Stony Island?
The shuttered and still vacant Dominick’s store at 71st Street and Jeffrey Boulevard remains Chicago’s only shuttered Dominick’s that has yet to find a replacement grocer.
It still hasn't. Mariano and Hairston toured that shuttered store on Monday, along with Planning and Development Commissioner Andy Mooney and a real estate consultant hired by the city. But Mariano, who once worked there, rejected it.
Other sites, however, have not been ruled out. In a press release issued after the tour, Hairston noted that she initially had four sites in mind, but expanded the list to seven to “increase the odds” of enticing Mariano. The most attractive sites are located on Stony Island Avenue.
“We looked at property that is owned by the city and privately owned. What was interesting is to find out that Mariano wants 60,000 square feet for his stores. We also talked about the importance of egress and ingress to site locations,” Hairston was quoted as saying.
“If he decides on a site that is owned by the city, the project could move faster than one that is privately owned. Sears owns the site from 77th to 79th and Stony Island. The city owns both the 6800 and 6900 blocks.”
The 5th Ward tour also included a site at 60th and Stony Island.
Either way this is another entry in the story where the Dominick's store at 71st St. & Jeffrey Blvd. still hasn't found another grocer to set up shop. Earlier Bob Mariano's noted he didn't think this site can fit his standards and even cited the Metra Electic tracks that run on 71st Street.
Across from the White Castle on 79th Stony Island sits approximately 8-10 acres with 6 acres privately owned and the rest city owned It is the best site on the Southeast side because it offers several transportation options and local employment options for residents of the 5,,6,7,8,10 and 20th wards,
ReplyDeleteSo we could have the beginnings of a south side retail corridor if Marino's chooses that area.
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