New Mariano’s Store Under Consideration for Current Sears Site

Deborah Bayliss | As of Thursday, October 23, 2014

Word around town is that Mariano’s Fresh Market is considering opening a site at Harlem and North Ave. in Chicago.

The Chicago Citizen Newspaper contacted Mariano’s for confirmation on the rumor and was issued the following statement: “We are aware of a number of site availabilities in and around the Chicago Metropolitan area as we continually review site locations for future Mariano’s stores. In regard to the North Avenue and Harlem site, we are aware of its availability and, in fact, have reviewed the site as a possible future Mariano’s location. However, we have not entered into any agreements on this site.”

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STANDARD

A new Mariano's Fresh Market store is being considered for location at the current Sears store site at Harlem and North Avenues.

According to news reports, a proposed 72,000-square-foot Mariano’s store would be built on the northwest edge of the property where a current Sears store is located. The 5,000- to 7,000-square-foot lot at the southwest edge will also be developed.

Representatives from Both Mariano’s and Sears presented plans during a meeting held by Chicago Ald. Deborah Graham (29th Ward) that includes tearing down the 60-year-old Sears store and rebuilding it as a 50,000-square-foot single-story building on nearby property.

The upscale grocery story would be the second new food market on North Avenue. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is expected to open less than a mile away, in the 30,000 square-foot former Dominick’s site at 7501 W. North Ave., according to published reports.

The new Mariano’s will serve residents living within a two-mile radius, including Oak Park, River Forest Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood and Elmwood Park.

No agreements have been signed between Mariano’s and Sears, and no plans have been submitted to the City of Chicago, which has jurisdiction over that part of the intersection.

Because the site is larger than 75,000 square feet, it would need to be redeveloped as a planned development, which means it first would need to go before the Chicago Plan Commission, which would need to send it to the City Council’s Zoning Committee. The Zoning Committee then would need to recommend consideration of the project to the full City Council.

If all plans go according to schedule, groundbreaking for the project could take place in 13 to 17 months.

Attempts to develop the site without razing the Sears building were consider but the building reportedly had too many functionality issues.

The amount of site preparation required also means Mariano’s and Sears will request development of a tax increment financing district to offset the costs.

The project is expected to create as many as 250 temporary construction jobs and up to 250 permanent retail jobs. In addition, the City of Chicago can expect up to $800,000 in sales tax revenue.

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