It's all Dominick's fault..

I'm sleeping better recently, thank you very much.

In the past two weeks I have been at ease -- as if I have found the answers to everyday problems.  Problems that plague us near and far.  Local and global.

The answer to what ails us can best be summed up in two words.

Blame Dominick's.

That's right -- Dominick's.

Car not running well --  Blame Dominick's.

Kids  misbehaving -- Blame Dominick's.

Taxes too high -- Blame Dominick's.

Cubs facing another miserable year -- Blame Dominick's.

Well, OK -- maybe not quite everything.

But if you are on the development team for the nearly vacant eyesore at Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads, best known as Cambridge Commons that seems like the logical choice.  Just blame Dominick’s.

You remember Dominick’s – the Chicago-grown grocery chain that sold to a national conglomerate that promptly ran it into the ground and then ultimately out of town.

The result of the shuttering of Dominick’s left the village with three, count ‘em, three vacant stores.  Two have been taken over, one, at Half Day and Buffalo Grove roads; will become a Mariano’s while another one at Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads is becoming a Garden Fresh.  Plans for the remaining site, at Arlington Heights and Lake-Cook roads have not been determined.

There was, is, may be yet another grocery store coming to Buffalo Grove.  If you believe 14 Dundee Road LLC, developers of Cambridge Commons, Fresh Farms wants to come into Buffalo Grove.  At least that’s what they said in August of 2012 when 14 Dundee approached the Village Board.

They were looking for support, not to mention incentives, from the village – and they got it – to the tune of a pledge for $1.1 million.  Among the things the village required was a new look at the center – start with the façade.

No problem.  Or so it seems.  As time marched on the 14 Dundee asked for, and received, extensions from the village. How great is that?  You get a pledge of $1.1 million to redevelop a prime location and you get more and more time to do it.

            Last September it seemed as though things were going well – extensions and all.  The Village Board approved permits so work could begin.  All the Board asked was that it be completed in 180 days – by March 22.

            No doubt, there are folks saying the Village is being mean and nasty and demanding that after nearly two years and a pledge of $1.1 million in incentives, that something be done,

            There was.  The developers came to the Board Feb. 26 and asked for, you guessed it, another extension.

            Bad idea.  Very bad idea. The Board did not take too kindly to the request.  Not at all.  In fact, the Board’s reaction was the harshest toward a developer that I can remember.

            There’s no doubt that the village would like to have a stronger retail environment.  The reality is however, there is so much the village staff and the board can do.  Promote the village, yes; offer incentives, yes; rent spaces, no.

            So after offering incentives and extensions left and right, patience ran out.

            The process, you would think, would be a two-way street.   A developer wants something, the village says OK, but we would like you to do this or that. You would think this would kind of logic would make sense.

            But after offering the aforementioned incentive, which, by the way, was taxpayer money, the Board ran out of patience of navigating what 14 Dundee LLC had made a one-way street, especially after the Board gave approval and issued a permit for work to be done.  This permit, for work on the façade, was issued in September.

            And where was it as of last week?  Still at Village Hall.

            Seems as though the folks over at 14 Dundee LLC just didn’t have a chance to pick it up.

            The reason?  None was given, but they kept bouncing back to Oct. 10, 2013 when Dominick’s announced it was calling it quits in Chicago.  That, the developer said, through a loop into the plans of Fresh Farms.  They had to rethink their plans.  After more than 18 months, Dominick’s was the issue.  Nearly six months after being granted a permit to begin work on project that had $1.1 million in village incentives, Dominick’s was the problem.

            If Dundee14 LLC wants to know where the problem lies, they should stop looking across the street from Cambridge Commons and look someplace else.

          Like in a mirror.

Grocery wars ahead?

What a difference a few months can make.

               Buffalo Grove grocery shoppers, which until recently had limited selection of grocery stores in the village, may soon have a wider variety thanks to the closing of the three Dominick’s stores in the village.

               With Mariano’s grabbing the Dominick’s at Half Day and Buffalo Grove roads there remains speculation and hope that the remaining two sites at Lake Cook and Arlington Heights roads and Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads, would attract new tenants.

               It looks as though the Dominick’s at Buffalo Grove and Dundee roads may become a Garden Fresh Market.  Village officials have confirmed that the Mundelein-based firm has applied for an “an application for Tenant & Use” for the site.

               It will be interesting to see how Jewel handles its new competition.  In addition to Mariano’s and Garden Fresh, the Sunset in Long Grove is a 9-iron shot from the village while the newly opened “The Fresh Market” in Lincolnshire is a par-five from the village.

               I am amazed that grocery stores flaunt “fresh” in their name. Maybe it’s me, but I’m not in the market for dated food. 

               As a friend of mine noted, it seems like more and more consumers are making multiple trips for groceries, almost like they go the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.  If he’s right, then the Caputo’s at Rand and Hicks factors in because it strives to be a major player in the produce game – my guess it’s fresh as well.
             If Garden Fresh gets the green light and opens at Dundee and Buffalo Grove road, it could make things interesting for Jewel.  If Garden Fresh emulates its Northbrook store, it would bring a very active kosher operation to Buffalo Grove, something Jewel has been trying to do in recent years.  But not on the scale as Garden Fresh.  In addition to have a Chicago Rabbinical Council approved “Kosher Korner” and a dedicated kosher manager – not to mention an afternoon minyan (services).  Calls to Garden Fresh’s corporate office have not been returned.

              As for Mariano’s, they will likely sabre rattle with Sunset and The Fresh Market since the three tend to be a bit more “upscale”.  Despite what has been reported, the Mariano’s concept is not a Bob Mariano idea.  One Mariano’s official told me the store is modeled after Rochester, New York-based Wegman’s.  The chain, which has stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland, features food courts with prepared foods and tables.  They thrive on community involvement and local ownership, similar to what Mariano’s aims to be.

               Other players?  Rumors have been flying about Kroger coming to the Chicago area.  It would not surprise me if Cleveland-based Heinen’s, which has a store in Barrington and one planned for Glenview, would make a bid for one of Chicago area Dominick’s.  Buffalo Grove would be a good fit since Heinen’s does well in suburban areas.   I have visited Heinen’s stores in Cleveland and Wegman’s in both Erie, Pennsylvania and Jamestown, New York, which should give you an idea as to the excitement that often reigns in my life.  Most visits include my mother-in-law, which concerns me because if either Wegman’s or Heinen’s opens nearby, she may be tempted to visit more often.   No further comment.

               In the meantime, the village’s grocery landscape is rapidly changing.  No more will it be two standard stores, but there will be a little variety and competition.

               And who knows, maybe even a minyan too.