Prospect Heights grocery store has closed

The Save-A-Lot Food Store in Prospect Heights, open just one year, closed last week, Mayor Nick Helmer announced Monday.

Helmer said after the city council meeting that another person hopes to open a grocery appealing to the area's Hispanic residents in the building at 610 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Palwaukee Center.

“That area (south of Palatine Road by Milwaukee Avenue) really needs a grocery store,” he said. “Thirty percent of our 17,000 residents are Hispanic. The new owner that we hope to announce soon might do better with more advertising. The small Hispanic food stores continue to do well.”

The Save-A-Lot franchisee, Tom Thomas, donated truckloads of nonperishable food to pantries in Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights and Wheeling, Helmer said.

“He was sad but happy to at least save the goods that were left over,” said the mayor.

The store has not held a tenant long since Irv's, a discount clothing store for men, closed in 2009 after 27 years there.