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Binny's Eyes Hermosa For Next Store

By Paul Biasco | March 18, 2016 5:49pm | Updated on March 21, 2016 9:19am
 Binny's is proposing to take over the former Walgreens at Pulaski and Diversey.
Binny's is proposing to take over the former Walgreens at Pulaski and Diversey.
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DNAinfo/Paul Biasco

HERMOSA — A Binny's Beverage Depot is likely headed to Hermosa and bringing decent-paying jobs to the neighborhood.

The liquor superstore proposed plans to move into the former Walgreens at Diversey Avenue and Pulaksi Road later this year.

Binny's hosted a meeting with the Hermosa Neighborhood Association Thursday night to discuss the proposed store, which could open around August 1, according to Leonardo Giron, a member of the neighborhood association who was at the meeting.

A representative with Binny's declined to discuss specifics for the project Friday.

"Overall the reception was pretty good. There were typical concerns about liquor stores but they kept echoing the fact that they are a high-end store and have standards and expect so much from their employees and will have good security on hand, off-duty cops," Giron said. "They made sure it was known they weren’t going to be a typical liquor store that comes into this neighborhood.”

Giron said the Binny's representatives unveiled plans to invest $1.5 million into remodeling the former Walgreens, which closed in November, and that construction would take about 10 weeks.

Binny's told those at the meeting the company would hold a job fair and expected to hire about 30 people to positions that have 401k plans, medical and dental insurance and pay starting at $15 per hour.

The company currently has five stores in Chicago, but none on the West or Northwest sides.

“A lot of people actually stood up to express their support for Binny's and to welcome them into the neighborhood and appreciate them for thinking of the neighborhood for their next store," Giron said.

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