Who's Fighting and What For?
By Jocelyn Geboy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 10, 2006 4:00PM
We remember the Sunday we were strolling down Broadway when something seemed strangely afoot at the ghetto Dominick's* right at Broadway and Wellington. A crowd was gathering and soon it was amassing mob proportions. Next thing we know, the building is burning down before our very eyes! Oh my!
We also remember how just yesterday we were riding the Broadway bus and passed the gaping hole in the line of buildings where that Dominick's stood and wondering when someone was going to replace it, and praying that they weren't going to balk on their promise and just throw up some condos instead. It's not like Lakeview needs to be gentrified, people.
Basically, it's the same old story. The DiMatteo family (relatives of the real Dominick) own the property through a company called Trident Development, LLC. Dominick's the store, (owned by Safeway, Inc.) wants to buy the property, but doesn't want to pay the price that Trident is currently asking. Trident has "floated a plan for a mixed-use project that would include residential units" according to Alderman Tom Tunney of the 44th ward.
However, Tunney is committed to getting a grocery store back in the spot, as that is what his constituents are clamoring for. He's also not into some monstrosity of a high rise. Dominick's has lost a percentage of market share in the area, so they still want to represent. Basically, the owner has the upper hand here, and are looking to get the max dollar. It looks like it might be awhile.
*Ghetto Dominick's. We're not really sure why, but it always seemed like that Dominick's was really dingy and more like one of those weird little neighborhood markets you find near an el station rather than like an actual big name grocery store. They always seemed to only have one or two selections of any given item and there was only one cashier ever working and there always was a huge line. It just seemed weird for the neighborhood. We know it was well loved. However, we were told once, particular Dominick's had the highest sales per square foot of any Dominick's in Chicago. So, you can't judge a book by its cover, obvs.
Image via Chicago Business.