Long-awaited Tony's Fresh Market's 21st store now open in Chicago area

The wait is finally over. Chicago-based Tony’s Fresh Market’s 21st location is now open in Schaumburg, Illinois, ending a nearly decade-long vacancy of the 65,000-sqaure-foot space that formally housed a Dominick’s grocery store.

“It’s been seven years in the making to finallyget the store open,” CEO Frank Ingraffia told WGB at the store’s grand opening on Wednesday.

The store opened its doors at 7 a.m. but shoppers were already lined up around the location before it opened.

“We're very excited to be here. Obviously, the turnout today has been tremendous with support from the community, the village and all the residents in the area,” Ingraffia said. “It's been absolutely incredible, more than we could have ever imagined.”

The store is in Schaumburg’s Town Square at 200 S. Roselle Road, and shoppers were seen arriving in droves into the parking lot early Wednesday.

On hand at the grand opening celebration were founders, Tony Ingraffia and Domenico Gambino, greeting shoppers. The two Italian immigrants opened the first store in 1979.

The new store features grocery essentials in all departments, including Tony’s signature emphasis on the perimeter of the store as well as global products. The new store features 11,000 international and imported items from around the world, according to Tony’s website.

A new store feature is a tacqueria, which Ingraffia said the grocery chain hopes to include in more locations.

E-commerce orders are available through Instacart, DoorDash and Uber Eats, as well as Tony’s curbside pickup model.

Tony’s was acquired by private-equity firm Apollo Global Management last April. 

“Apollo acquired a portion of the business last year; we retained a portion of the business, but definitely all the family is still involved and operating the business day to day,” Ingraffia told WGB.