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Mariano's Opens In Lakeview Tuesday — Take A Peek Inside (PHOTOS)

By Ariel Cheung | August 26, 2016 2:23pm | Updated on August 29, 2016 10:54am
 Mariano's will open a 73,000-square-foot supermarket at 3030 N. Broadway on Tuesday. Take a look inside as employees set up shop.
Lakeview Mariano's Opens Next Week — Peek Inside
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LAKEVIEW — It's been over a decade since neighbors could grab their groceries at 3030 N. Broadway.

That changes on Tuesday with the opening of a 73,700-square-foot Mariano's — a long-awaited addition to the Lakeview East neighborhood.

Inside, two floors of groceries and an array of dining options greet customers, from an oyster bar to the new Four Star Burger Bar — a first for any Mariano's.

The front entrance of the new Mariano's Lakeview is flanked by the Vero cafe and a smoothie bar. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

Executive Chef Ryan LaRoche said each burger is named for a different police or fire station in Chicago.

"The burgers are very fun and kind of blue-collar, so we wanted to relate to the greatness of Chicago," LaRoche said.

While there are Greek-style and turkey burgers, his favorite is the classic cheeseburger. ("American cheese is by far the best cheese for burgers. It's made for melting.")

The first floor is mostly comprised of such kiosks, with a Vero cafe and gelato shop and a smoothie bar anchoring the main entrance. Nearby, customers can get sushi, salads, pizzas and barbecue.

Employees make fudge in the Mariano's sweet shop. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

A Nutella bar on the market's first floor will prepare baked goods with the creamy filling. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

Those with a serious sweet tooth can browse an assortment of fudge, candies and desserts at the sweet shop and its adjacent Nutella bar. For a quick meal, there are grab-and-go cases and a selection of $6 and $10 meals.

Another first for Mariano's — the Gem and Vine chopped salad bar.

The grocery is also expected to sell products from Lakeview entrepreneurs, who met with Mariano's executives in late July to showcase their wares.

RELATED: Mariano's Looking To Add Lakeview Flavor Ahead Of August Opening

Upstairs, a large produce section includes bulk items, spices and local greens from the Bright Farms greenhouse in Rochelle.

The second floor of the new Mariano's Lakeview has a large produce section. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

An employee stocks spice shelves and bulk items at the new Mariano's in Lakeview, which opens Tuesday. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

Nestled nearby are the pungent cheese and charcuterie shop, the bakery and the meat and seafood counters.

The cheese and charcuterie shop at the new Mariano's in Lakeview, which opens Tuesday. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

Mariano's offers custom cakes for weddings, birthdays and other occasions. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

The store's second level includes the bakery, meat and seafood section and grocery aisles. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

And finally, a dozen aisles of groceries.

Flags above the international foods aisle guide customers to the corresponding section of ethnic foods. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

Mariano's will open at 3030 N. Broadway on Tuesday. Grocery aisles are on the second floor, including this spacious case of juices. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]

The five-story commercial development broke ground in February 2015, 10 years after a Dominick's grocery store burned down there. The space was used as a parking lot in the interim.

"Designing and seeing everything come to fruition is by far my favorite part,"  This is the fun part now — come Tuesday, life changes a little bit."

Already, the Starbucks and new traffic signal are in working order. Joining them will be a 40,000-square-foot XSports Fitness gym and several other retailers.

Above the grocery store, two levels of parking make up 280 spaces for customers of all the complex's businesses and some employees.

Mariano's is also looking to establish off-site parking with a shuttle for employees, although they can also use street parking nearby, a spokesman said.

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