Mariano’s store in Gurnee set to close in July

The Mariano’s grocery store on Grand Avenue in Gurnee is scheduled to close July 17, after 12 years in business.

“Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to close our Gurnee store,” Amanda Puck, vice president of communications and brand development for the Roundy’s & Mariano’s divisions of parent company Kroger, acknowledged Monday.

“This closure is part of a larger companywide decision to run more efficiently and ensure the long-term health of our business,” she added.

Each impacted employee will be given the opportunity to transfer to a new location, Puck said. She did not provide further details, such as how many people that will affect or whether other suburban Mariano closings are planned.

The Gurnee Mariano’s opened in July 2014 in the former Dominick’s supermarket at 6655 Grand Ave., between Almond and Hunt Club roads.

Village officials said Monday they had no details beyond the closing date. A store manager declined to comment.

Other Mariano’s stores in Buffalo Grove, Bloomingdale and Glenview closed in August 2025, with company officials also citing the need to ensure the long-term health of the business.

Cincinnati-based Kroger bought Mariano’s from Roundy’s Supermarkets in 2015. In a financial report at the time of last year’s suburban closings, Kroger said it planned to close about 60 stores nationwide over the following 18 months. Company officials did not say whether the Gurnee closing is part of that.

In its fourth quarter 2025 report, Kroger CEO Greg Foran said the company had a strong finish including solid sales growth. Total company sales were $34.7 billion in the fourth quarter, up 2.1% over the same period in 2024, the company reported.

“We have the right foundation in place, and I’m focused on making it even stronger by delivering more value to customers, improving the customer experience in stores and online, and driving cost savings and productivity to fund our growth,” Foran said.

The company will hold a first quarter earning conference call with investors Thursday.

Foran was appointed Kroger CEO in February. He led Walmart U.S. for six years, overseeing a turnaround of the company's largest division until 2019, according to a Kroger news release.

“He’s all about prices and value,” said Jon Hauptman, a veteran grocery industry analyst/consultant who founded Price Dimensions four years ago.

Hauptman didn’t have knowledge of the Gurnee situation but said in chains small and large, a small number of stores can drag corporate profitability.

Mariano’s, was founded by Bob Mariano, the former chief executive of Dominick’s. The first Mariano’s location opened in Arlington Heights in 2010.

There are 28 other Mariano’s locations in the suburbs, according to the company website.