Popular Grocery Store Will Take Over Joliet Kmart, 250 New Jobs

JOLIET, IL — This summer, Joliet Patch reported the empty Kmart store at West Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue was under contract by an investment group. On Friday, city of Joliet officials posted a meeting agenda for next week's economic development committee revealing that Tony's Finer Foods plans to occupy the empty Kmart property.

City officials will discuss an incentive agreement for Tony's Finer Foods at the city's economic development committee's 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday, Dec. 8. Tony's plans to hire at least 100 full-time workers and another 150 part-time workers for its new grocery store at 1801 W. Jefferson St.

"I think it's a win for the city. It's turning a blighted corner at two major roads into a retail center that will look beautiful," Joliet City Councilman Larry Hug told Patch. Hug serves on the city's economic development committee and will be reviewing the project next week.

Earlier this fall, Joliet Patch reported the city of Joliet would review plans to create indoor and outdoor mini-storage units, a 60,000-square-foot grocery store and one or two restaurants at the 10.6-acre parcel.

However, on Friday Patch learned the storage unit project will not be moving forward and there are no storage units that are part of the Tony's Finer Foods project, according to city of Joliet economic development specialist Derek Conley.

Conley joined Joliet City Hall in 2018 and said the redevelopment of the Kmart property is one of the most important projects he has tackled.

He believes thousands of Joliet residents will be thrilled by Friday's news.

This will be the second Tony's Fresh Market in Joliet.

There is one along Route 59 near Caton Farm Road that has a Plainfield mailing address, but it's really in Joliet, Conley said.

As far as the vacant Kmart at Larkin and Jefferson, "This has always been a priority property for the city," Conley said. "Tony's is a great fit for that building and that area. They want to start (renovations) as soon as possible and they plan to open in 2021."

Joliet's most prolific real estate attorney, Michael Hansen, has been representing the former investment group for the Kmart site.

"This is definitely a win-win for everybody," Hansen told Joliet Patch over the lunch hour Friday.

As far as Tony's Finer Foods, Hansen said, "it's an excellent choice for that location."