Roundy's Arlington Hts. store to bear name of CEO

The new Roundy's supermarket in Arlington Heights will be named Mariano's Fresh Market, the company announced Monday.

The name is a nod to the Italian heritage of Roundy's Chief Executive Officer Bob Mariano. The date for the opening of the store, which is under construction, is still listed as late spring or early summer.

Mariano, who was CEO of Dominick's before its sale to Safeway Inc. in 1998, said he is thrilled to be coming back to Chicago.

"We want our customers to know that Mariano's Fresh Market intends to be fully immersed in the fabric of the community," Mariano said in a news release. "We take this responsibility very seriously and are already developing plans to activate our long term dedication to the neighborhoods we will serve."

Besides produce, meat, a bakery and a deli, the Arlington Heights store at Northwest Highway and Kensington Road will have a wine and spirits department, a sushi bar, homeopathic remedies and an Italian-themed cafe with espresso, gelato and panini.

This is the chain's first store in the Chicago area. Next year the company hopes to open one in the Loop, at 340 E. Randolph.

Roundy's, based in Wisconsin, has 154 grocery stores throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, and 88 of them have pharmacies. The stores operate under the Pick 'n Save, Copps Food Centers, Rainbow Foods and Metro Market banners. Roundy's has nearly $4 billion in annual sales and 18,000 employees.

Mariano, who joined the company in 2002, led its change from primarily a wholesaler to retail only. In his first 18 months the company added 59 stores through acquisitions and construction.