Caputos buys Des Plaines shopping center

The owners of Joe Caputo & Sons Fruit Market have purchased The Oaks shopping center at Lee and Oakton streets, city officials said Wednesday.

Yet, there is no indication that it could mean the end of the Dominick's Finer Foods store at 1555 Lee St., which currently anchors the shopping center.

A manager at the grocery store dispelled rumors Wednesday that Dominick's may be closing the location. A corporate spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.

Dominick's' lease at that shopping center expires in 2017, city officials said.

It is unclear whether Caputo's may eventually relocate from its current location at 959 E. Oakton St. near Webster Lane, and expand into the Dominick's site.

City officials said no such plans have come forward.

The food store is owned and managed by brothers Nat and Vito Caputo, and has been operating at the Oakton and Webster location for about 20 years. They also operate food stores in Palatine and Algonquin.