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Your Supermarket Prayers Have Been Answered, Logan Square

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 28, 2016 5:01PM


Logan Square residents who have been pushing for a major, chain grocery store in the neighborhood appear to have finally gotten their wish. The former Mega Mall on Milwaukee Avenue (see above for our photos of the walls and murals that remain) will be converted to a mixed-use development of retail and residential space; and the retail portion will be anchored by a Jewel, sources told Curbed Chicago.

Real-estate firm Terraco Inc. revealed in May of last year that Logan’s Crossing—as the future development is to be known—would house a fitness center along with a major grocer, but didn’t reveal any specifics beyond that. Some in the neighborhood had strongly advocated for a Trader Joe’s at the Mega Mall site (2500 N. Milwaukee Ave.), but the company said in 2014 that it was not partnering in Logan’s Crossing. As far back as 2012, Logan Square locals also had designs on a TJ’s near Milwaukee and California Avenues, but the TOD behemoth known as MiCa eventually kiboshed those hopes.

Sorry, Logan, it looks like your big-box frozen food options will be of lesser quality than you hoped. But, plus side: you’ll probably have a deli!

Kevin Gazely, Senior Vice President of Terraco, told Chicagoist that no tenant has yet been finalized.

The onetime Mega Mall was slated to be demolished this past June, but it still stands, for now, doubling as canvas for a pretty spectacular public mural, thanks to artist Amuse126 and Galerie F's Billy Craven. According to Gazely, Terraco expects to announce a demolition date within the next few weeks—after which razing would be "imminent."

Check out the murals above before they get pushed aside in the great supermarket sweep of progress.

Representatives from Jewel were not immediately available for comment. This post will be updated as necessary.