CHICAGO — Mariano's Fresh Market announced its expansion into 11 Dominick's grocery stores, including three in Chicago, Monday afternoon.
Roundy's Inc., the parent company of Mariano's, signed a $36 million deal with Safeway to convert the Dominick's stores as early as January 2014 at the following Chicago locations: in McKinley Park; in West Town; and in Edgewater.
Roundy's issued a statement Monday announcing its acquisition of the stores and said it would close the deal by the end of December.
Dominick's employees aren't guaranteed a job. A spokesman for Roundy's said Dominick's employees "will still have to be interviewed, hired and trained for new opportunities at Mariano's."
The transformation from Dominick's to Mariano's would take about two months, according to the statement. The stores scheduled for conversion to Mariano's will close for up to 45 days.
That's when prospective employees can apply online or at forthcoming job fairs.
Safeway Inc. plans to close all unsold stores by the end of December.
The Ukrainian Village Mariano's will likely open before "Mariano's Bucktown," a new store planned for 2112 N. Ashland Ave. in Bucktown.
Earlier this month executives from Mariano's said the Bucktown store is expected to open sometime in 2014.
In a conference call with investors, Roundy's CEO Robert Mariano said the Milwaukee-based grocery chain plans to open five new Mariano's stores next year and believes the Chicago market can "sustain 30 Mariano's" locations
Hyland said on average 400 people are hired in a mix of full- and part-time jobs when any new Mariano's store opens.