The Chainlink

Mariano's Fresh Market

I generally try to keep my money as local as possible, but I was near Mariano's at Halsted and Madison last Thursday evening around 9 and needed a few things, and would have not been able to get to any local stores in time.

I had already been impressed with the amount of bike parking they had installed, but otherwise didn't know anything about the place beyond a vague perception that they were probably on the pricey side. My initial perception after passing the sushi and expresso bars, and the deli/bakery/produce areas on the way in was that the store was very upscale, but when I got to the aisles I found the prices were pretty low, especially the house brand stuff (Roundy's) and there was kind of a suprising assortment of foreign food of various kinds.  I ended up almost enjoying shopping, which I've almost come to dread in recent years....

Anyone else shop here? What do you think? Is it a local company? Is it just a subsidiary of Wal-Mart and I'm easily fooled?

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 30, 2013 at 5:26pm

Interesting, thanks.

Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:

I'm not too into Mariano's. Hate the fact that they bullied for TIF funding to go in at Ravenswood and Lawrence, when they quite obviously do not need it. (And: how long does it take to build a darn grocery store? That thing is taking forever.) Really dislike the fact that they say they're creating X # of local jobs but they then lay off 75% of X after the opening fades. Hate the piano at Western and Roscoe. Plus, I asked an employee on the opening week for the gluten-free section and he stared blankly at me for like 5 minutes. I left.

Waiting patiently for the Chicago Food Co-op, myself, and until then it's Whole Foods, TJs, Jewel, and Harvest Time, plus occasional trips to Fresh Farms in Niles. 

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on September 30, 2013 at 5:39pm

OK, I might have to go in for that. Damn you!

Kevin C said:

Mariano's carries a sharp Wisconsin Cheddar aged for 5 years that actually makes me weep with joy. Every. Time. I. Eat. It.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 9, 2013 at 1:50pm

So, rehearsal let out early last week and I ended up there again.... thought I would see about this Cheddar but only remembered your description vaguely... I ended up with a "super sharp" cheddar that I swear was indistinguishable in flavor from Kraft American Cheese singles.

Rehearsal ends early again tomorrow (probably last time) so.... do you know which one this was?

Kevin C said:

Mariano's carries a sharp Wisconsin Cheddar aged for 5 years that actually makes me weep with joy. Every. Time. I. Eat. It.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on October 9, 2013 at 2:19pm

I called Mariano's. Go to the Deli/Cheese department. Describe it to them as follows: Mariano's brand (re-labeled) Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar aged 5 years. I think it's $8-10/lb. They'll know what you're talking about.

h' 1.0 said:

So, rehearsal let out early last week and I ended up there again.... thought I would see about this Cheddar but only remembered your description vaguely... I ended up with a "super sharp" cheddar that I swear was indistinguishable in flavor from Kraft American Cheese singles.

Rehearsal ends early again tomorrow (probably last time) so.... do you know which one this was?

Kevin C said:

Mariano's carries a sharp Wisconsin Cheddar aged for 5 years that actually makes me weep with joy. Every. Time. I. Eat. It.

Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on October 9, 2013 at 2:26pm

I agree with Tom. That's the worst part of my daily commute home (well, that and the area around Dispatch Taxi - both AM and PM).

Tom Dworzanski said:

They opened one on Elston near the DMV (Elston & Bryn Mawr) not too long ago. I've been surprised by the amount of traffic they get. Unfortunately the traffic has created one of the most unsafe parts of Elston with cars darting in and out of the already busy stretch without having a good view of the bike lanes due to parked cars on the street. They really should have built a single big, multi-lane driveway with plenty of room to make eye contact rather than two narrow, blind driveways. So I for one am not a fan of theirs as far as being a cyclist.


Can't say anything about the food as I've never been inside.

Permalink Reply by igz on October 9, 2013 at 2:28pm

i scored some nice house plants at awesome prices. and they are all still thriving

Permalink Reply by Duppie on October 9, 2013 at 3:12pm

$8-10/lb. That does sound like a great deal for a quality cheddar. Thanks, I finally have my reason to ride the long way home tonight...

Kevin C said:

I called Mariano's. Go to the Deli/Cheese department. Describe it to them as follows: Mariano's brand (re-labeled) Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar aged 5 years. I think it's $8-10/lb. They'll know what you're talking about.

h' 1.0 said:

So, rehearsal let out early last week and I ended up there again.... thought I would see about this Cheddar but only remembered your description vaguely... I ended up with a "super sharp" cheddar that I swear was indistinguishable in flavor from Kraft American Cheese singles.

Rehearsal ends early again tomorrow (probably last time) so.... do you know which one this was?

Kevin C said:

Mariano's carries a sharp Wisconsin Cheddar aged for 5 years that actually makes me weep with joy. Every. Time. I. Eat. It.

Permalink Reply by KayCee on October 9, 2013 at 3:15pm

South Loop's Mariano's opened yesterday, I think...  On Clark just south of 18th.  

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 9, 2013 at 3:48pm

Oh great, now there's going to be a run on the cheddar....

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 9, 2013 at 4:06pm

Actually it's just south of 16th.

KayCee said:

South Loop's Mariano's opened yesterday, I think...  On Clark just south of 18th.  

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on October 10, 2013 at 9:37am

Is their food called "Roundy's" because it will make you round if you eat too much of it? :-)

Permalink Reply by Michelle Loomis on October 10, 2013 at 9:47am

I shopped at Mariano's with a friend that worked for whole foods. I probably won't be going back to Mariano's as my friend pointed out every flaw in the store from the bruised/bad produce to the poorly stocked shelves. You will never have to reach to the back of the shelf to get products at whole foods. I guess that is the type of stuff you notice when you have worked in the industry and now that it has been pointed out to me, I will notice too.

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