Second Jewel-Osco coming to Mundelein

A second Jewel-Osco store is expected to open in Mundelein - the newest location coming later this year in the vacant Dominick's grocery store, village officials say.

Village and company officials have been working for a couple of months on a deal to fill the 65,816-square-foot space at 1150 W. Maple Ave. The store will include a new salad and wing bar, gourmet service bakery case, expanded produce, deli, meat, seafood, and floral departments.

"Finding a grocery store replacement for the former Dominick's space has been a top priority for me and the board of trustees," Mayor Steve Lentz said in a statement. "Jewel-Osco's decision to open a second location to serve the needs of the Mundelein community and surrounding area satisfies one of the Village Board's key strategic objectives. This is very exciting announcement for Mundelein and we are very pleased to expand our partnership with Jewel-Osco."

The Dominick's store closed in 2013 when the chain pulled out of the Chicago area. Although there are other supermarkets in Mundelein, Dominick's departure prompted some people who shopped there to take their grocery business to other communities.

And that's not just conjecture - village officials noted a "significant" drop in sales-tax revenue from grocery stores after the Dominick's closed, Village Administrator John Lobaito said.

"(It was) more than a 20-percent drop," Lobaito said.

Mundelein officials and Jewel representatives are finalizing a tax-sharing deal that will see the company get back some of the money the new store generates for the village. Lobaito called it a "standard" deal for the town, providing a financial incentive for Jewel to both open the second store and improve it.

Officials expect the new Jewel will be ready for customers this fall. An extensive interior remodeling is planned.

"The community has missed the grocery store in that shopping center," Lobaito said.

Lentz isn't just excited about the new store as the mayor, he's also excited as a consumer. He and his family regularly shopped at the Dominick's store, where his son once worked as a bagger.

"I can't be happier to get someone in there," Lentz said. "It fills a real grocery store need in the northern part of our town."