Whole Foods acquiring 5 Dominick's: Report

Whole Food Market, Austin, Texas, has reportedly agreed to acquire five former Dominick's stores in the Chicago area from Safeway.

According to published reports Whole Foods will acquire stores in the West Loop, Streterville, Edgewater, Lincoln Park and Willowbrook. The chain will reportedly close its 38,000-square-foot Willowbrook store and move into the nearby Dominick's location, which covers 70,000 square feet.

Safeway discontinued its Dominick's operation in late December and, though the stores have been for sale since the fall, it has previously sold only 21 of the 72 stores before the Whole Foods sale: 11 to Mariano's, four to Jewel; four to Joe Caputo & Sons IGA; and single units to Cermak Fresh Market and Pete's Fresh Market.