Arlington Heights Mariano’s building employee parking lot

Mariano’s Fresh Market in Arlington Heights has proved so popular that the company needs a parking lot just for employees.

The store, which opened two years ago, has 346 parking stalls in its existing lot, which is almost 100 more than the village requires.

However, the lot averages 80 percent full, and Roundy’s Supermarkets, the parent company, considers that full because it doesn’t want customers needing to drive around to find spaces, said Max Dickman, an official with the company.

The new lot at Douglas Avenue and Kensington Road had been a storage lot for vehicles when Latoff Chevrolet operated on the site at Northwest Highway and Kensington. The lot, which will hold 99 cars, will be paved and fenced, but could be a temporary situation if the village comes up with redevelopment plans. The Mariano’s and new housing in the area point toward possible redevelopment, according to a staff report.

Roundy’s is leasing the lot for seven years with the option of two five-year extensions.

The village board approved the parking lot Monday, including a waiver of one landscaping island.

Employees have been parking on streets and adjacent properties, including a lot where construction is planned.