Butera Market closing in Carol Stream

After a brief stint in Carol Stream, the Butera Market is closing its doors in a shopping center that's struggled to retain a grocery store.

For years, supermarkets have come and gone at the 39,000-square-foot space, the biggest spot in the County Farm Plaza at the corner of Army Trail and County Farm roads.

In March 2014, a Piggly Wiggly opened its first DuPage County store there to much fanfare, with village officials hoping it would draw shoppers familiar with the chain's Wisconsin locations.

Those expectations apparently fizzled, and the "Pig" promptly became Butera later that summer (the Butera family owns Piggly Wiggly Midwest).

Fast forward about a year, and Butera is preparing to exit as the shopping center's anchor. On Wednesday, shoppers were greeted by signs advertising deals of 20 percent to 40 percent off.

Village Manager Joe Breinig said officials learned of Butera's closing through the "rumor mill" and have not been contacted by the landlord or the company.

While he couldn't explain why the chain is leaving Carol Stream, Breinig acknowledged stiff competition in the business.

The grocer sits across the street from a Jewel-Osco. And Meijer is a couple miles away in Bloomingdale. Butera also has moved out of St. Charles.

"Certainly competition in the grocery industry is very intense," Breinig said.

Still, grocery stores "tend to co-locate," he said.

"I think the location is attractive," said Breinig, noting the busy intersection and renovations that were done to the former Family Foods before Piggly Wiggly moved in.

Meanwhile, on the southeast side of town, the former Dominick's store remains stagnant.

"My understanding is that the parent company continues to make their lease payments," Breinig said. "There's limited incentive on the property owner to do anything."

An employee who answered the phone Wednesday said no date has been scheduled for when the Butera will officially close. A representative at Butera's Elgin headquarters did not return a message seeking comment.