Oak Park residents know by now – Pete’s Fresh Market hasn’t kept its promises on when it will open its Madison Street location, even after about six years of delays.
The developers blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, utility work and supply chain issues for delays, and as of July 16, Oak Park officials said they have no active permits on file from Pete’s.
That leaves residents wondering: What is the hold-up now?
Pete’s won’t say. The grocery store’s representatives did not answer Wednesday Journal’s questions.
“Thank you for reaching out. Someone will reach out to you if there is any interest,” Kris Murdock, a corporate customer service manager at Pete’s Fresh Market, said in an email.
The development at 640-728 Madison St. has been underway since 2018. The deadline was last moved in January 2023, after village trustees approved an extension that changed the opening date to June 30, 2024.
That day has since passed.
In January 2024, the project manager, Eugene Grzynkowicz, said he could not confirm a specific opening date. Cameron Davis, the village’s assistant director of development customer services, said at the time that an application for a building permit related to the structure was submitted to the village, but incorrectly.
In June, representatives from Pete’s were expected to update the village board and discuss an amendment to the redevelopment agreement, and determine a new timeline for the project. They did not appear, although according to Emily Egan, the village’s development services director, representatives from Pete’s have been in “close communication” with village staff.
“Once Pete’s has something they would like to present to the board, as soon as possible, that’s when they would be back,” Egan said, adding that she hopes representatives can return quickly with the amendment.
The next step in giving Oak Park residents another Pete’s Fresh Market, Egan said, is to complete the permitting process. Some contractors complete building permit work all at once, Egan said. Pete’s did not.
“We try to work with contractors and developers, so if they’re ready for portions of the permit and it makes sense, we do work with them and allow them to submit for that work in order to expedite the process,” Egan said.
The village has approved Pete’s permits for utility relocation, but that work appears complete, Egan said.
On June 7, Egan said, Pete’s submitted its permit application for the earth retention system. This permit related to the structure would allow the developers to start building foundation and underground parking for the grocery store.
It’s unclear why it took Pete’s so long to file the application, although a response is expected this week. The village gave relatively minor corrections and comments back to Pete’s, Egan said. If they respond, the permit could be approved this month, at which point Pete’s can begin parts of construction.
“That doesn’t mean that would complete the permit applications that they’ve submitted,” Egan said. “They’re still working through some of the other items that they need. But it would be significant progress.”
The other parts of the permit application include things such as electric and plumbing work, Egan said. But outside construction could begin while those internal work components are being approved.
In 2023, Wednesday Journal reported that if Pete’s didn’t meet deadlines, it would face financial consequences. The fee, starting at $2,000, is supposed to increase with every extension request. Trustee Lucia Robinson has said that the penalty is not enough. Pete’s did not pay a penalty for the original extension.
