Mariano’s gets OK from Frankfort
By Mike Nolan mnolan@southtownstar.com June 19, 2012 7:20PM
A rendering of the planned Mariano’s Fresh Market in Frankfort. | Supplied Photo
Updated: July 21, 2012 6:23AM
The first Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery in the Southland is coming to Frankfort, now that village trustees have approved plans for the store.
With a planned 2013 opening, the store will be on the east side of LaGrange Road on the site of Enrico’s restaurant, which is relocating.
Mariano’s has been making inroads in the Chicago market and is a division of Wisconsin-based Roundy’s Supermarkets, whose chief executive is the former CEO of Dominick’s. Known for offering higher-end products and prepared food, Mariano’s has five stores in the Chicago area, but Roundy’s officials have said more are planned.
“The high-quality Mariano’s Fresh Market concept will bring an exciting shopping and dining experience to residents of the entire Chicago Southland area,” Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland said in a news release.
The 73,000-square-foot store will be along a stretch of LaGrange Road that’s home to several grocery outlets. From just north of LaPorte Road in Mokena to just south of U.S. 30 in Frankfort, there are five supermarkets, including Dominick’s, Jewel-Osco and Walt’s.
Frankfort trustees also approved a license for Mariano’s to sell packaged liquor, and the village is working with the Illinois Department of Transportation on plans for a traffic signal on LaGrange Road to provide access to the store. The signalized intersection would be at the north end of the supermarket, just south of Old Plank Trail Community Bank.
Brothers Harry and Bob D’Ercole, owners of Enrico’s Italian Dining, are selling their property to Bradford Development for the grocery store. The sale will include the former Town Center Bank site as well as buildings housing DePaulo Travel and Red Door Realty.
The restaurant, 20127 LaGrange Road, will relocate, but details on the move are pending.
