VIDEO: Bob Mariano Comes To Town

Although the skies were gray, Oak Lawn’s future couldn’t have shone brighter as village officials and Bob Mariano pitched shovels into a ceremonial pile of dirt last Friday.

Mr. Mariano, chairman and CEO of Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., came to town for the groundbreaking of his self-named Mariano’s Fresh Market of 111th Street and Cicero Avenue.

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After eight long years of TIF battles and drawn-out litigation, village officials are hoping that Mariano will bring his Midas touch to the blighted corner and that other upscale retailers will follow

Before the current and newly elected village board members, including the mayor-elect, Trustee Carol Quinlan (Dist. 5) who did not attend last Friday’s ceremony.

“This was Dave Heilmann’s vision,” Quinlan said. “It’s been a long time coming. All the old and new board members are very excited about this development.”

The supermarket that lures shoppers into the store with wine and cheese along with deals on toilet paper and peanut butter, Mariano’s is expected to bring 400 jobs to Oak Lawn when it’s completed, and 65 construction jobs daily while it’s being built.

Trustee Bob Streit (Dist. 3), said establishing a tax increment finance district to help subsidize redevelopment on the corner was always a good idea.

“Landing a new Mariano’s is really outstanding,” Streit said. “It’s a great opportunity, not only for the shopping opportunities but for the sales tax. We’ll be able to keep property taxes down.”

Mariano’s Fresh Market is the first anchor tenant to sign on to the new retail development, which will be built in three phases by .

The 70,000-square-foot store is expected to take a little over a year to complete.

 “Bob has a terrific reputation and is one of the most creative executives of all the grocery store businesses in the country,” Todd Berlinghof said, a developer for Hamilton Partners. “We’re very excited about working with him.”

Watch the video of Bob Mariano’s message to Oak Lawn residents.