There has already been a lot of discussion about the new Mariano’s grocery store proposed for the corner of Halsted and Monroe streets — most of which centers around $7 million the city is giving the project from our real estate taxes.

Neighbors and others question their receiving the chunk of tax increment financing money (better known as TIF money), when similar projects have not. There are definitely better ways to spend TIF funds. Reports from the community meeting seem to indicate that the fast-approaching expiration of our TIF area in part precipitated their use for Mariano’s.

I think it’s unfortunate that money dedicated to economic development is being used in an area that rather than a food desert, could be considered a grocery glut.

There are so many options either here or on the way that West Loopers will be able to buy just about anything imaginable, without Mariano’s, by this time next year. Besides the Dominick’s located at Halsted and Madison just a block away from the proposed Mariano’s, ground is breaking in the West Loop on a Target at Van Buren near Ashland and a Walmart at Presidential Towers. Further to the west, a Pete’s Fresh Market is set to open at Western and Madison and a Costco is breaking ground at 14th and Ashland. Fans of Jewel have their choice of two, one at Ashland and Roosevelt and a newer one at Kinzie and Des Plaines.

If you like to shop even more locally, Arista Foods is located on May just south of Lake Street, and Peoria Packing Butcher Shop, which sells much more than meat, is in the 1300 block of Lake. There is also a new Greek grocery opening on Halsted across from the one we lost with the fire at Costa’s last year. And the few local 7-Elevens are always good for snacks and those last minute beverage purchases.

I have heard the complaints about the freshness, selection and value of some of these businesses. People might think that a new grocer like Mariano’s will provide incentive for the others to step up their game. But if freshness, selection and value are what you seek, we already have more than most Chicago neighborhoods combined because of our easy access to the wholesale grocers on Fulton Market and Randolph. Many are open to the public, and offer friendship as well as great, fresh food.

My friend Debbie thinks there are a wealth of local choices, and they have been a part of her weekly routine for years. Her favorite is N & G at 902 W. Randolph St. She says that John, the owner of N & G doesn’t just treat his customers like family, he incorporates his own family into the business as well. His parents, Nick and Georgia, are often at the store lending a hand by interacting with customers and helping with the packing and unpacking of produce.

Debbie likes the whole shopping experience at N & G. “I have been going to N & G Produce for years,” she told me. “Their wholesale prices are great, but the real reason I enjoy going there each week is to chat with John and Nick. We discuss our families, our dogs, the neighborhood, new recipes, etc. The friendly and inviting atmosphere they have created makes me feel like I am part of a community — not just a neighborhood.”

A quick visit to the Yelp website proves that their personal touch impresses customers, and that the prices are amazing. The same is true for our other local wholesalers like Columbus Meats, Meadowbrook Egg Company, Isaacson’s Fish Market and JP Graziano. Reading customer ratings and talking to Debbie confirms that Grazianos has been ramping up their imports of quality meats, cheeses, olive oils, pastas, etc. for the public to buy. It also seems to show that most visitors are people from outside of our neighborhood.

Because it is a small part of their business, I don’t think they have money to spend on marketing to the community. I would encourage the community organizations and the City’s delegate agencies in and around the West Loop to make a more concerted effort to promote the wholesalers who sell to the public. Perhaps a street guide with foods offered and hours of operation would show us how a simple walk down the street could stock our kitchen with the freshest foods from meats and produce to herbs and dairy.

The West Loop is not, and hasn’t been a food desert. I do understand that the community is under a tight timeline to use the tax dollars that have been deferred to the TIF. After considering the many established food businesses in the neighborhood, perhaps a better use would have been to enhance the area around them rather than bringing in a competitor.

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By Joe from West Loop
Posted: 11/24/2011 9:45 AM

If they knocked down that eye sore of a bldg. with the Dominick than i\'d agree the people there are horrible. if they knew how to provide service there wouldn\'t be a need. Even in a tough economy, you have to provide good service. when you\'re pushing a stroller and looking to buy everything a once it\'s nice to go to a target or mariano\'s, but i do enjoy subs graziano\'s like everyone... place is always packed. there are plenty of condos and to support them all... all but dominicks. see ya!

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By Tammy from West Loop
Posted: 11/09/2011 1:24 PM

What a joke! Obama set up the "food desert" to help incentivize grocer's to build stores where poor consumers don't have an economic alternative to buy groceries. But as my sister from Milwaukee pointed out, Marianos is NOT a Milwaukee company. Willis Stein is a CHICAGO company that owns Rainbow, Pik n Save, Copps, Marianos etc. She also said we are welcome to take them back to Illinois because they ruin everything they touch! Call your elected officials and tell them to cut off the funds

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By Patrick from West Loop
Posted: 08/15/2011 7:14 PM

PS - when CPS is bleeding money and wants to raise taxes, I think taking TIF money that is about to "expire" and funneling it to CPS is the answer, not giving funds to businesses that don't need it. Giving TIF money to healthy, profitable businesses is sort of like giving food stamps to Warren Buffett....makes no sense.

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By Patrick from West Loop
Posted: 08/15/2011 5:30 PM

And then we're going to have a Walmart and Target within a year within a few blocks of this development. If y'all think I'm being fussy and whiny, do me a favor: Go to Roosevelt Road on a peak Saturday or Sunday shopping time, and tell me how much time it takes to drive somewhere or make a turn into Dominicks, Whole Foods, etc. It CAN be done but with road planning and traffic planning - which I have heard NOTHING about, and which will likely be a total afterthought.

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By Patrick from West Loop
Posted: 08/15/2011 5:27 PM

Dave, if that horribly run Dominick's was closing, I'd be more welcoming to Mariano's too. All other items set aside, I can't imagine what traffic will be like at Madison/Halsted. It is already almost impossible for cars to make left turns from Madison to Halsted from the east or west. This will only make matters worse, and could dump a lot of traffic onto Monroe, which is not prepared to handle it.

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By claudea from United Center
Posted: 08/15/2011 11:46 AM

The Mariano's in Roscoe Village is replacing a Dominick's that was at that same location.

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By AmySue from West Loop
Posted: 08/15/2011 10:24 AM

A Mariano's commercial is running on cable TV noting the opening of a store at Roscoe (3400 N) and Western (2400 W). This location is also directly across the street from another large grocer... Mariano's proposed development at 1900 W. Lawrence was also seeking TIF--and also had a residential tower which was put on indefinite hold-- http://bit.ly/qLj5pH

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By Amazing from near west side
Posted: 08/15/2011 10:00 AM

WestLooper---at least you have a grocery store to complain about. Those of us west of the United Center are just happy that Dominick's is on the bus line. I think hell will be frozen over before we see Pete's open up. I don't see the city rushing to give them TIF funds, but then again they are local and the city is attracted to attracting out of state business. Ridiculous.

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By WestLooper from West Loop
Posted: 08/14/2011 9:29 PM

It is amazing how quickly that Dominick\'s went from nice and new to rivaling the Roosevelt location for filthy floors and an unpleasant vibe. I'm glad for the new store.

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By Dave
Posted: 08/13/2011 8:34 AM

Patrick, While I agree it wasn't need per se it still will be a good addition. Competition is good and I hear nothing but good things when it comes to Mariano's. That Dominick's over there is a disaster and it's only a matter of time before it closes down. The bigger problem is what comes with the Mariano's than the actual Mariano's.

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By AmySue from West Loop
Posted: 08/11/2011 5:32 PM

Here are a couple of links readers might find interesting: --Architect\'s Newspaper just featured WL developments (w/Hyde Pk & Cabrini) w/pics http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5582 --A 2-min. video on St. Lawrence Market http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arPGZSr3ml4 You can find videos on the Strip District on youtube as well...thanks to Patrick for providing these great examples.

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By Informed Voter from South Loop
Posted: 08/11/2011 10:22 AM

Unspent TIF money goes back to the taxing bodies that would have otherwise received it, meaning the City of Chicago, Cook County and Chicago Public Schools. None of those entities are exactly rolling in cash, so it seems preferable to let the money go back to them instead of rushing to spend the TIF money for spending's sake. It's too bad that a better way to spend the money could not be found. This sounds like a bad idea.

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By Patrick from West Loop
Posted: 08/11/2011 9:12 AM

Thanks for posting this - there are SO many reasons why I am opposed to the Mariano's project, because it MAKES NO SENSE. Nothing personal, but I don't understand why Mariano's - a business based in Milwaukee - is being given preference and TIF money over local businesses. That money could go towards encouraging smaller businesses on Randolph and Fulton Market. We could have an area like St. Lawrence Market (Toronto) or the Strip District (Pittsburgh) that would attract so many people.