Independent grocers Tony’s Finer Foods, Treasure Island and Strack & Van Til are reported to be interested in taking over as many as 10 Dominick’s stores when Safeway Inc. pulls the chain out of the Chicago market after Christmas.
Crain’s Chicago Business reports the three grocers, all affiliates of Joliet-based Central Grocers Inc., want to buy the stores as a group.
Jewel-Osco said Wednesday it will convert four Dominick’s stores by mid-January but won’t consider buying more stores until after Dec. 28.
Safeway announced Oct. 10 that it would pull out of the Chicago area by Dec. 28. The 72 Dominick’s stores employ 6,600 people. So far, Safeway has sold 15 Dominick’s stores — four to Jewel and 11 to Roundy’s, the parent of Mariano’s supermarkets.