Tony's Fresh Market Sneak Peek: Grand Opening Nears

JOLIET, IL —One of the biggest success stories during the tenure of Mayor Bob O'Dekirk — the redevelopment of the vacant Kmart store — is about ready to open. On Friday, Joliet Patch was given access to the inside of the former Kmart store, which was acquired in 2020 by the Tony's Fresh Market grocery store chain.

Friday also happened to be the day when Olympik Signs out of Lombard erected the giant T-O-N-Y and the S at the top of the building at Joliet's busiest intersection, Larkin Avenue and West Jefferson Street.

Several people at the construction site told Joliet Patch that the grand opening date is not official, but Tony's is trying to be open around the July 4th holiday. One person told Patch that in the best case scenario, Tony's would be open on the Wednesday before July 4, which would be June 29.

However, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before the grand opening can happen, workers on the job site stressed. In other words, there are no guarantees that Tony's Fresh Market will be open by July 4th, which falls on a Monday.

Unified Construction has been the general contractor on the multi-million dollar Tony's redevelopment project. Unified has built several of the Tony's in the Chicago area, including their most recent store that opened last year in Round Lake.

Right now, the Tony's property is a hub of activity as dozens of contractors are working inside, outside and on the roof of the Tony's and the future Planet Fitness health club right next door.

Dozens of Tony's employees were also at the construction site Friday stocking their shelves. There's a trailer in the parking lot where several prospective job candidates showed up Friday for their job interviews.

Tony's plans to have at least 250 full-tine and part-time workers for its new Joliet location. Jobs are available for bakers, baristas, cake decorators, cashiers, customer service, cheese specialists, at the coffee bar, deli, floral, food demonstrations, front end supervisors, baggers, grocery stockers, staffing the juice bar, line cooks and in the meat/seafood section.