Newest Mariano's opens in ex-Gurnee Dominick's site
Excited customers browsed fresh produce and shopped the aisles when Roundy's Inc. opened its newest Mariano's grocery store in Gurnee.
Mariano's opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce the store and make donations to the COOL Food Pantry and the Warren Township Food Pantry.
“I think it's great,” said Amanda Puck, the company's director of Strategic Brand Development. “There is a lot of excitement from the village of Gurnee and shoppers. We really emphasize our everyday low prices and our fresh produce.”
The Gurnee grocery store is at 6655 Grand Ave. and is the ninth Mariano's to open of the 11 former Dominick's locations acquired by Roundy's in December 2013. Roundy's is a leading grocer in the Midwest.
The latest Mariano's location has added 470 jobs to the Gurnee area, the company said.
Shoppers filled their shopping carts as they strolled past tasting stands for free samples, checked out the organic fruits and vegetables, and ordered a wide ranging selections of meats and fish.
“It's very good,” Lindenhurst resident Bill Hooven said. “I love the fresh fruit, bakery and meats.”
Mariano's has 25 locations in the Chicago area and employs more than 10,600 people.