Sprouts grocery store development gets nod from Wheaton board

Sprouts Farmers Market has at least two planned grocery stores in suburban Chicago moving closer to reality.

The Phoenix-based chain wants to plant roots across from the Wheaton Nurseries garden center. The city’s planning and zoning board has endorsed the proposed construction of a roughly 24,000-square-foot Sprouts store on a long-vacant site off Roosevelt Road. A developer has also secured a loan to revitalize the former Buffalo Grove Dominick’s store into a Sprouts as well as a fitness studio.

“Already in 2026, we've opened stores in New York, Texas, Florida and Virginia to resounding success,” Sprouts CEO Jack Sinclair said during a conference call on its latest quarter results. “We're seeing a great reaction as we enter new communities, and we're sharpening site selection as we scale, expanding access to healthy foods from sea to shining sea.”

In the first quarter, more than 55% of produce sales were organic, and over 34% of total sales came from organic products, Sinclair said.

“Another theme core to the DNA of Sprouts is making healthy eating accessible and affordable. It always starts with our assortment,” said Sinclair, pointing to wellness bowls under $10, “$5 Sushi Wednesdays” and $4.99 sandwiches.

One analyst of the suburban Chicago grocery store market called Sprouts a strong grocer.

“They are more of a health-conscious, natural, organic type of grocery store than some others, but I think their prices are very competitive and below Whole Foods,” said John Melaniphy, president of retail consulting firm Melaniphy & Associates.

Wheaton City Council members are expected to discuss the proposed development during their May 18 meeting. Any ordinance approval would come at a later date. The project also calls for construction of a nursery school.

“We believe this is a really strong fit for this community, both for the Roosevelt Road corridor and also for the city of Wheaton as a whole, providing a natural grocer and a new early childhood education facility,” said Mike Haigh of Quattro Development, the owner of the property.

It was previously occupied by a car dealership. The grocery store would be built at the northwest corner of Roosevelt Road and Chase Street. The childcare building would be situated on the southeast corner. There are homes to the south.

“I think there's a nice balance,” planning and zoning board member Mark Plunkett said of the proposed development. “It kind of buffers the backside of the property. It's still good exposure out onto Roosevelt Road, and it is helping the tax base that keeps all our real estate taxes lower.”

Several neighbors voiced concerns about site layout and traffic on Roosevelt and the surrounding streets. As part of its zoning request, Quattro Development is asking the city to allow the construction of The Gardner School building with a front yard setback beyond the maximum set forth in Wheaton’s zoning ordinance. It would be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The busiest grocery shopping times, by contrast, are typically evenings and weekends when The Gardner School would be closed, Haigh said.

As of March 29, Sprouts had 483 stores across 25 states, according to the company. Sprouts expects at least 40 new stores this year.

“As we go to market, you'll see us leaning more into our leadership in the health and wellness space,” Sinclair said. “This is why customers seek us and continue to shop with us.”

• Daily Herald staff writer Steve Zalusky contributed to this report.