A proposal for Sunset Foods to fill the former Mariano’s location on Willow Road in Northfield has apparently collapsed, and the Northfield Village Board is now beginning a broader review of the surrounding business district.
Village President Tracey Mendrek announced at the Feb. 24 Village Board meeting that Sunset Foods and Swanson Development Group, owner of the former Mariano’s at 1822 Willow Road, were unable to reach an agreement after several months of negotiations.
“Like all of you, we are disappointed by this outcome, but after eight months of a vacant storefront this board must turn its attention to a new solution for the location,” Mendrek said.
Village Manager Patrick Brennan said after the meeting that the two sides could not come to terms on a lease for the approximately 47,000-square-foot store, which ceased retail operations last June when Mariano’s parent company, Kroger, closed several Chicago-area locations.
Brennan said the village has not “closed any doors” and would provide assistance if asked, but he believes both parties are moving on.
Steven Swanson, managing partner of Swanson Development Group, declined to comment.
Sarah Hanlon, director of marketing for Sunset Foods, said, “Sunset Foods is always interested in growing into new neighborhoods, but has no immediate plans. Regarding the Northfield site, Sunset Foods was unable to reach an agreement with the property group.”
Supermarkets have operated at the site since the 1970s, Brennan said.
Terry Dason, president and CEO of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce, said her organization was “heartbroken” by the turn of events.
“All I continue to hear is the residents want a grocery store there,” she said. “They are missing Mariano’s and they were hopeful Sunset would replace them.”
With a supermarket replacement seemingly off the table for now, the Village Board unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new office-related uses in the village center business district and asked the village’s plan and zoning commission to review zoning in the area.
“We decided this would probably be a good time to take a pause and take a good look at our zoning codes in the central business district and allow our plan and zoning commission to make some recommendations back to us,” Mendrek said.
Mendrek anticipated the Board will review the situation at its April 6 meeting.
In addition, the village has retained a real estate consulting firm to perform an eligibility study to determine if there are sites in the business district that could qualify as a redevelopment area that would create the possibility of tax incremental financing.
“If eligible, this will provide the village a valuable tool to take a more assertive role in the land use of the village,” she said.
Mendrek said the two initiatives will give developers awareness of the village’s intent for the area.
“We have watched from the sidelines as many of our neighboring communities including Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield and Highland Park have used similar redevelopment plans to enhance their downtowns,” she said. “I believe it is Northfield’s time to take decisive steps to strengthen our community.”
