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New grocery store headed to North Avenue
Oak Park Market will cater to Oak Park, Galewood residents, owner says
The 13,000-square-foot grocery store at 6209 W. North Ave. is reopening after about a year-long hiatus, and its new owner, Angelo Palivos, is looking to Oak Parkers and Galewood residents to help make it a success.
Palivos, who is the third owner of the store in four years, said in a recent tour of the forthcoming Oak Park Market that he has kept a close eye on the Facebook groups like the Northeast Oak Park Community Group to get a better idea of what patrons are hoping to find there.
He said nearby residents have said in the online conversation that they want the store to "cater to the Oak Park community, and that's going to make it a success."
Palivos also has consulted with Oak Park Village Trustee Deno Andrews to get a better idea of what will and won't work at the location.
Palivos aims to open the store on Sept. 22 and will highlight organic products that appeal to vegetarian and vegan consumers. Oak Park Market also will offer a selection of wine and craft beer, along with a small selection of liquor, among other products, he said.
"I need Oak Park to support it," he said.
North Avenue Fresh Market closed its doors in July 2014 and reopened under new ownership as Market Fresh Foods in February 2015.
Judith Alexander, chair of The North Avenue District, said in an email that her organization believes Oak Park Market "can do better than its two predecessors by focusing more on the immediate neighborhoods of Galewood and north Oak Park with organic products, craft beer, quality wine and so forth."
She hopes the owner works to attract new customers by offering samples from featured food producers like cheese and sausage makers and provides special offers for residents who join their email list.
"We will do everything we can to help, reminding those who get our e-newsletter or belong to our Facebook community page that if we want appealing retail on North Avenue, we need to patronize those establishments," Alexander wrote.
Palivos said Oak Park Market also will feature a meat counter with Boar's Head products, fresh seafood, freshly baked bread and cookies and a hot-food counter with meals ready to eat. He's also looking into establishing a delivery service for those interested in ordering their groceries online.
Oak Park Market will employee about 20 people, Palivos said.
Andrews, who lives near the location, said he has worked to help put Palivos in touch with residents to get local buy-in on the new store to help make it a success.
"It's several notches above what was there," Andrews said in a telephone interview.
He said Palivos asked him to post about the store in his Facebook group Northeast Oak Park Community Group. "There were over 300 comments, so the community stepped up and gave a lot of feedback about what they want."
He added that "it's nice to see a responsive business owner who wants to work with the community in creating something they are going to want to attend."
Andrews said he believes that if the store is able to get a liquor license, it will greatly improve its chances of success at the location.
"There's nowhere to get craft beer or a bottle of wine in northeast Oak Park," he said.
CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com
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Beverly Labon Holiday from Elmwood park
Facebook Verified
Posted: September 22nd, 2018 3:29 PM
When will this store be opened for business?
Janet Miceli
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Posted: September 2nd, 2018 12:00 PM
Yes Brian I know the new Jewel has supposedly signed on but I've been hearing that for the last 4 years. I'm staying hopeful tho that this time it's for real! And that it gets going soon...
Brian Slowiak
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Posted: September 1st, 2018 9:27 PM
There will be a nice grocery store on Madison. It will be Jewel, because Jewel is swapping locations on Madison Street.
Janet Miceli from Oak Park
Facebook Verified
Posted: September 1st, 2018 5:27 PM
Great now let's get a nice grocery store on Madison Street for those of us that live smack dab in central OP! So we can stop traveling to Wholefoods in RF and the Jewel in RF....
Patrick Aubyrn from Oak Park
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Posted: August 29th, 2018 3:44 PM
Please let this grocer carry fresh curry leaves. This is basically all they need to get me in the doors...
Deb Lindner Cogan from Oak Park
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Posted: August 28th, 2018 9:01 PM
I am so excited to hear this news. A big thanks to the North Ave revitalization group and to Deno Andrews for helping this vision be realized. I can't wait to patronize this new store and am thrilled to have a nice, organic grocery with wine and cheese in the neighborhood! Such a great improvement along this corridor!!! Keep it coming!
Mischa DeHart
Facebook Verified
Posted: August 28th, 2018 8:28 PM
I have lived in Oak Park for 12 years and have yet to find a grocery store that trains their employees in the deli section. They are not trained to ask how you would like your meat or cheese to be sliced. They do not put wax paper between sets of slices so everything sticks together. They slice the prosciutto at the same thickness as a slice of house roasted turkey breast (thick) only to find out when you get home. The scales need to be cleaned regularly. They are so filthy that they make me lose my appetite. This comment applies to all current OP/RF grocery stores.
Mary Pikul
Facebook Verified
Posted: August 28th, 2018 8:03 PM
I correct that. For ALL people.
Mary Pikul
Facebook Verified
Posted: August 28th, 2018 8:02 PM
Although too far from my OP home, this is a great step forward for OP. Glad to hear it. When I first moved to OP and wanted to try a few grocery stores, I wandered into the previous store to give it a try, and I literally turned around and walked out. Bleck. Couldn't believe I was in OP. Now. How do we replace Fair Share Finer Foods on Roosevelt? Another "low price claim" grocery with actually more over-priced items and limited, poor quality food choices. We can do better than that for OP people.
Marie T Perkins from Oak Park
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Posted: August 28th, 2018 6:47 PM
Nice to see that it will offer vegan options.
Jeff Schroeder from Oak Park
Facebook Verified
Posted: August 28th, 2018 4:28 PM
This is great news for those of us with businesses on North Avenue. So often, we immediately drive west of Oak Park Avenue for lunch, drinks, etc. It will be nice to have a reason to stay in our own town, assuming we can get Boars Head sandwiches to go.
Tim Inklebarger
Wednesday Journal Employee
Posted: August 28th, 2018 4:08 PM
Thank you for your kind words, Judith.
Helen Vogel
Facebook Verified
Posted: August 28th, 2018 12:13 PM
As long as it's kept cleaner than either of it's two predecessors, it should do well.
Judith Alexander
Facebook Verified
Posted: August 28th, 2018 9:15 AM
Many thanks from The North Avenue District: 1) to Tim Inklebarger and the Wednesday Journal for their continued interest in/coverage of North Avenue. 2) Trustee Deno Andrews for helping to bring Oak Park Market to the vacant grocery at North/Harvey 3)Most of all, to Angelo Pavilos for taking over the vacant grocery and his commitment to serving the neighborhoods of Galewood and N. Oak Park. As the article says, The North Avenue District will do everything we can to help Oak Park Market succeed.