No matter what food shoppers are looking for, grocery stores in Chicago have the market cornered. From small, gourmet markets to massive big-box stores where one can find everything, the options seem to be endless. Take a field trip and check out a sample of what Chicago food retailers have to offer. All directions are from McCormick Place.
IN CHICAGO
Dominick's
255 E. Grand Ave.
Directions: Take Lake Shore Drive north to Roosevelt Road and turn left. Turn right on Columbus Drive. Store is at the corner of Columbus Drive and Grand Avenue.
Highlights: This is the first Dominick's to feature the "lifestyle" format, being rolled out by Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., the Chicago chain's parent. Located in the heart of Chicago's trendy Streeterville neighborhood, the format attempts to take back some of the clientele that the chain has lost in recent years to specialty and natural food retailers like Whole Foods Market. Gone are the cavernous dimensions of the average Dominick's location. Instead, observe the lower ceilings and meticulously designed produce and prepared foods area, complete with muted lighting, faux-wood floors and a Starbucks. The city now has three Dominick's with the format, and more are on the way.
Potash Bros. Supermart
875 N. State St.
Directions: Take Michigan Avenue north. Turn left on Ontario Street. Turn right on State Street.
Highlights: Opening their first store in 1950, Potash Bros. has been assisting Chicagoans on the near North Side with their grocery needs longer than most of the competition. Although quite a bit smaller than many chain stores, the store manages to squeeze more than 20,000 products into its modest space, providing unparalleled convenience for the many high-rise dwellers that frequent the store every day. The wide selection of gourmet foods, including fresh produce, deli meats and cheeses, seafood, and "baked-fresh daily" bakery items, give customers everything they need to create the perfect meal. The store even caters to the "insta-cooks." There is a small kitchen appliance area, complete with mini-food processors and microwaves.
Jewel-Osco
2940 N. Ashland Ave.
Directions: Take Lake Shore Drive north to Belmont. Take Belmont east and make a left on Ashland. Store is two to three blocks down on the right.
Highlights: Though by no means the only Jewel-Osco store in the city, one would think this location was attempting to serve the entire North Side. It is one of the largest Jewel-Osco locations in the entire Chicago metro area, and with this much space, it's no wonder they've got all the bases covered twice over. A huge produce department covers about a quarter of the store's floor space. An entire Osco drug store and pharmacy covers another quarter, and in between is the grocery section, which includes almost two full aisles of ethnic and organic food options. There is also an impressively built-out liquor/wine/beer department in the center of the store. The chain has been recently sold to Supervalu, Minneapolis, which is scheduled to take over ownership this summer when the Albertsons' acquisition closes.
Trader Joe's
3745 N. Lincoln Ave.
Directions: Take Lake Shore Drive north to Fullerton. Make a slight right onto Lincoln Avenue. Store is just north of Addison at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Grace Street.
Highlights: Trader Joe's opened its first Chicago location in 2002, and people immediately began to wonder how they ever lived without it. Almost four years later, the chain is as popular as ever. Still jam-packed most evenings, people flock to TJ's to buy everything from delicious frozen food to affordable yet quality wines and beers. The fun, tropical atmosphere and plentiful food samples would keep almost anyone coming back for more.
Eatzi's
2828 N. Clark St.
Directions: Take Lake Shore Drive north to Fullerton. Turn right onto Clark Street. Mall is on the left, just north of Diversey.
Highlights: This purveyor of gourmet fresh meals opened its only Chicago location last year, in the basement of the Century Shopping Centre. Although the mall has struggled for the past few years, Eatzi's, along with other retailers like Aveda, Express, and Bath and Body Works, is attempting to create something of a renaissance in the promising retail space. Eatzi's large red umbrella can be seen from anywhere in the atrium of the mall, and beneath it is an impressive prepared foods section with a wide variety of salads, and both hot and cold entrees. There is also a sushi bar and an entire room devoted to cheese from a host of different countries. Restaurateur Phil Romano, founder of Romano's Macaroni Grill, Fuddruckers and Cozymel's, originated the concept as a joint venture in 1996. Backed by Castanea Partners, a private-equity firm, he bought the business in 2002. If you're feeling a bit peckish on your tour, try the raspberry gelato.
El Guero #8
2101 W. Cermak Road
Directions: Take I-55 South and exit at Damen Avenue (Exit 290). Bear right at the fork and continue north on Damen. Turn left onto Cermak Road.
Highlights: How many stores can boast a produce department extensive enough to include cacti? What about a store that entirely does away with refrigerated meats in favor of a huge butcher counter where all the meat is cut fresh? These are just a couple of the treats that await visitors who decide to travel to this near South Side Hispanic grocer. What it lacks in trendy decor, it makes up for in character and the wide variety of Hispanic and American brand foods that line its shelves. Also interesting is its take on merchandising and displaying cosmetics and other sundries. Instead of an aisle, there is a glass counter at the front of the store displaying everything from toothpaste to Tylenol to jewelry.
CHICAGO SUBURBS
Mitsuwa
100 E. Algonquin RoadArlington Heights
Directions: Take I-55 south. Merge onto I-90 west via exit 292. Take I-90 west, exit at Arlington Heights Road, and take the ramp toward Arlington Heights. Turn right onto Algonquin Road.
Highlights: As the largest Japanese supermarket in the Midwest, Mitsuwa does not disappoint. The grocery and produce areas have an extensive selection of foods, including Japanese vegetables, organic foods like tofu and miso, and sashimi-grade seafood (meaning fresh enough to be eaten raw). In keeping with its nickname, "The Mall of Japan," Mitsuwa also houses a liquor store with over 150 types of sake, a video rental store, a bookstore, a cosmetics counter and a confectionery. Finally, if wandering through the store inspires you to ponder an actual vacation to Japan, never fear: A travel agency is ready to book all of the arrangements.
Marsh
Supermarket
3115 111th St.Naperville
Directions: Take I-55 South. Exit at Weber Road (Exit 263), and turn right onto Weber Road. Turn left onto Rodeo Drive. Turn right onto Book Road. Turn right onto 111th Street. Store is on the left.
Highlights: A slightly different take on a "lifestyle" store gives this supermarket a very unique layout. The main space is a large, two-story circular room with a coffee bar at the center. Branching out from the center are magazines, books, greeting cards, produce and a few other miscellaneous products. Set all around the edge of the main space are smaller "rooms" for things like bakery, frozen foods, liquor, meats, seafood, etc. There is also a cafe and large deli area with a wide selection of cheeses, meats and prepared foods. A beautiful floral department rounds out this attractive and unique grocery store. Marsh Supermarkets, based in Indianapolis, is in the process of being acquired by Sun Capital Partners, Boca Raton, Fla.
SuperTarget
7300 191st Street
Tinley Park
Directions: Take I-55 south, and merge onto I-90/94 South. Merge onto I-80 west and exit at Harlem Avenue (South). Store is on the right just after you cross the expressway.
Highlights: The south suburban region of Chicago has officially been introduced to the term "one-stop shopping" with the opening of the area's first SuperTarget. Customers can sip a frappuccino from the in-store Starbucks as they browse through a grocery and produce department the size of an average Jewel or Kroger supermarket. Yes, it really is that big and is running against Wal-Mart Supercenters.
