Tony's Fresh Market Review Begins At Joliet City Hall

JOLIET, IL — Last Friday's revelation that the empty Kmart store at 1801 West Jefferson Street is set to reopen next year as a Tony's Fresh Market grocery store was unexpected across the city of Joliet. And starting Tuesday evening, city officials will start reviewing the proposed tax incentives for the project.

The city's economic development committee meeting starts at 5 p.m. inside City Hall. The committee consists of Councilmen Larry Hug and Terry Morris.

Derek Conley, recently promoted to city economic development, told Joliet Patch last week that Tony's wants to begin renovations immediately and be open for business in 2021.

The empty Kmart has been a drag on the city's business corridor since it closed four years ago this month. These days, several homeless people are living in front of the building.

Joliet Patch's article breaking the news of Tony's plans to expand to West Jefferson Street drew several thousand readers to the story. Not surprisingly, many had a lot to say about the announcement.

According to the city, Tony's will bring 100 full-time jobs and 150 part-time jobs to the corner of Jefferson and Larkin Avenue. Tony's has one store in Joliet on Route 59 near Caton Farm Road, in the Plainfield area.

Here's a sampling of comments from Joliet Patch who reacted to Friday's news:

• "That would be nice but there are many homeless people who sleep in front of the empty Kmart for shelter. I think it's wrong to force them to leave. The city has done nothing to help more homeless people have shelter. We need another homeless shelter and more programs to help them get jobs first."
• "This is great news!!!!!"
• "Derek Conley is good for this city."
• "Finally, some of the best news I have heard ALL YEAR LONG! YAY! WE GET TONY'S! I actually thought they would have considered Meijer as well but Tony's it is! Good job, COJ and its developers for this project! We need a positive spin for this city for once in a long time! I pray that the homeless people will have somewhere safe and warm to be when this project launches bc it's getting colder outside at night."
• "This will definitely be my "go to" store once it opens. Thank you to the family owned business for your investment into Joliet."
• "Tony's deli is the best, but I'm concerned what will happen to all the sea gulls that use the parking lot as home."
• "You're worried about a bunch of birds when there are homeless people that use the front of the old Kmart as shelter? Birds have wings they can go anywhere they want but those people have nowhere to go. Some of them are elderly and might not even make it through the winter."
• "Probably put the Jewel down the road out of business and back to square one. Another empty lot/store for future blight."
• "Nah... they’ll both be just fine. At one point, Crest Hill had a Jewel, Eagle, and Cub Foods right next to each other with half of the population. Let’s be upbeat and positive about this."
• "Tony's Market is a Great addition for the Larkin Street Corridor. Collins Street and Cass has a nice business district. I applaud the innovative business ventures that have proven to be a positive collaboration geared toward supply and demand within that community. Some of my friends travel from Southern Illinois to patronize these merchants."