Pete's Fresh Market to open on the Near West Side

Pete's Fresh Market has been selected to develop a grocery store on the long-vacant parcel at the southeast corner of Madison Street and Western Avenue. The city, which owns the land, chose the local, family-owned retailer over Jewel-Osco and Food4Less. The selection of Pete's will mark a sea-change for the Near West Side, an area that's been without a full-service grocery store for years, earning parts of the neighborhood the label of "food desert."

Department of Community Development Commissioner Mary Bonome told residents at a meeting in late August that Pete's offered the best package out of 12 criteria - from financing options and proposed construction timeline to local hiring plans - established by the city. Pete's plans to build a 50,000-square-foot store. The Chicago-based company hopes to break ground next summer and open in June 2011. An estimated 150 full-time jobs will be available at the store. Click to read more at the Chicago Journal.

November 2009 Newsletter