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 Will on October 10, 2013 at 8:02pm

I know someone who works there, and from what she says, they don't treat their employees well. I won't be shopping there again anytime soon.

Permalink Reply by Sol on October 11, 2013 at 2:16am
I like the produce at my local independent, Devon Market. They also have a sushi chef and reasonable prices.
Permalink Reply by Michelle Loomis on October 11, 2013 at 6:30am

Yeah I get the price point issue and I havent shopped at either whole foods or Mariano's enough to really know the price difference. I don't shop whole foods much unless I need a special ingredient for a recipe. I think what my friend was getting at is that Mariano's trys to be like whole foods but fails at it, and presents itself horribly. Whole foods has extra stockers to keep the shelves mirrored and from what I can tell they provide a decent living for their employees.  

My favourite produce usually comes from the farmers market :-)


Duppie said:

That's good that you noticed that. Did you also notice the increased cost of your groceries that invariably accompanies 'mirrored'(*) shelves.

(*) In my teenage years I worked in a high-end grocery store. Mirroring is what we called the activity of pulling goods forward, placing them label forward, and placing newer merchandise in the back. Mindless work, but it paid for my weekend nights out.

Michelle Loomis said:

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.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on October 11, 2013 at 11:08am


Not knocking the sauced up grocery shopping, I look forward to a grocery store that may have a hookah lounge one day. It's just feels weird to shop like as if it's a holiday with live music, fine wines and vittles that fill the air. Also the prices on some of their stuff is comparable to Trader Joe's, Jewels and Dominick's.

Sunday's my S.O. and I visit TJ's, Dominick's, Whole Foods, Jewels, Mariano's and the Walmart in Presidential Towers for all the sale items or product that is much less, even by 10 cents. All within walking distance with our shopping cart.

I would go to the largest Whole Foods but it is really just for the driving crowd and too far away.


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Hey, don't knock drunk grocery shopping until you try it. ;-) Whole Foods in Lincoln Park has a bar with a decent beer selection, and it's a fun place to blow your whole paycheck, if you so desire.

Juan 2-8 mi. said:


Roundy's is their value brand for sure. They are also good at being enablers of alcoholics as I have witnessed some shoppers walking around with a glass of wine in one hand and groceries on the other.


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

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

Permalink Reply by Duppie on October 11, 2013 at 11:19am

And the best selection of Ajyar I've ever seen.

Sol said:

I like the produce at my local independent, Devon Market. They also have a sushi chef and reasonable prices.
Permalink Reply by T.K. 3.5 mi on October 11, 2013 at 11:24am

This seems related. Not sure if it has been mentioned in the thread before:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Dominicks-Owner-Safeway-Le...

Ill probably keep shopping mostly at Cermak Fresh Market. It doesnt have the same depth of selection as the other big guys but its cheap, fresh, and close by. I wish there were more TJs. 

Permalink Reply by leftoverbacon on October 11, 2013 at 1:35pm

It's hard to compete with companies that are getting TIF handouts in the Millions of dollars. EVERY SINGLE WalMart in this town was built w/ TIF funds. Most Target Stores were built w/ TIF Funds. I know the Marianos on Halsted (across the street from Dominick's) was built w/ TIF funds.... What ever happened to the "Free Market".

T.K. 8.4 mi said:

This seems related. Not sure if it has been mentioned in the thread before:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Dominicks-Owner-Safeway-Le...

Ill probably keep shopping mostly at Cermak Fresh Market. It doesnt have the same depth of selection as the other big guys but its cheap, fresh, and close by. I wish there were more TJs. 

Permalink Reply by leftoverbacon on October 11, 2013 at 1:37pm

I want to add that I recently visited the Marianos in the South Loop. They put in a bike rack, but it's mounted so close to the building that most people were just locking their front wheels. If you want to lock your frame, you'll have to either be a contortionist, or take up 1/2 the rack.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on October 11, 2013 at 1:48pm

Anyone been to Plum Market on Wells?  Michigan-based, wine bar, sushi from Takashi Yagahashi, some stuff from Zingerman's, and I know they carry bread from local baker Anne Kostrowski of Crumb Chicago and Sauce & Bread Kitchen.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 11, 2013 at 1:59pm

Why were TIF funds used to build a grocery store when there was already a Dominick's a block away?

leftoverbacon said:

It's hard to compete with companies that are getting TIF handouts in the Millions of dollars. EVERY SINGLE WalMart in this town was built w/ TIF funds. Most Target Stores were built w/ TIF Funds. I know the Marianos on Halsted (across the street from Dominick's) was built w/ TIF funds.... What ever happened to the "Free Market".

T.K. 8.4 mi said:

This seems related. Not sure if it has been mentioned in the thread before:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Dominicks-Owner-Safeway-Le...

Ill probably keep shopping mostly at Cermak Fresh Market. It doesnt have the same depth of selection as the other big guys but its cheap, fresh, and close by. I wish there were more TJs. 

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 11, 2013 at 2:00pm

I'm jealous. I live two blocks from Cermak and have no local Cermak Produce...

T.K. 8.4 mi said:

This seems related. Not sure if it has been mentioned in the thread before:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Dominicks-Owner-Safeway-Le...

Ill probably keep shopping mostly at Cermak Fresh Market. It doesnt have the same depth of selection as the other big guys but its cheap, fresh, and close by. I wish there were more TJs. 

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 11, 2013 at 2:01pm

Strange-- the one in Greek town is literally drowning in bike racks (ground level inside the parking garage)..... are you sure there aren't many many more in some other area?

leftoverbacon said:

I want to add that I recently visited the Marianos in the South Loop. They put in a bike rack, but it's mounted so close to the building that most people were just locking their front wheels. If you want to lock your frame, you'll have to either be a contortionist, or take up 1/2 the rack.

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