Northfield residents eagerly awaiting new life at the former Mariano’s location at 1822 Willow Road will have to hold on a bit longer, with no new tenant lined up to fill the vacant grocery store nearly two months after the Sunset Foods proposal fell through, according to village officials.
Village President Tracey Mendrek announced back in February that Swanson Development Group, the site’s owner, and independent supermarket chain Sunset Foods were “unable to reach an agreement” in a proposed deal after months of negotiations. The site has continued to remain vacant.
“I don’t have much news to share,” said Patrick Brennan, Northfield’s village manager, in an email to the Pioneer Press.
“We continue to talk with the owner of the site on nearly a weekly basis. They are continuing to explore options for the site and the potential for a grocer remains on the table,” Brennan said.
“From the Village’s perspective, we are doing everything that we can to be a resource for the property owner and any potential tenant. I find it encouraging that the owner continues to place an emphasis on finding a tenant that will be an asset to the Village.”
Steven Swanson, managing partner of Swanson Development Group, was unable to be reached for comment regarding future plans for the site.
Brennan said in a follow-up email that all inquiries for the property should be routed through Swanson’s leasing agent, Brendan Reedy at MidAmerica Real Estate.
Reedy also did not respond to multiple Pioneer Press requests for comment on efforts to fill the space.
“We, unfortunately, have limited ability to influence [action on] this because we don’t own the property, but we certainly have expressed our interest in a grocer and in retail that will continue to add revenue for our tax base,” Mendrek told Pioneer Press.
“We’ve heard from residents that the amenities they want are a grocery store and additional restaurant options and more walkability, and those are all things we’ve made as a priority for the owner,” she said.
Mendrek added that the village has additionally offered suggestions for the space from ideas generated in a local community development group, but that it’s a “long process” in finding a new tenant and it will require extended patience from residents.
The 47,000-square-foot store has been vacant since last June, when retail operations ceased following parent company Kroger’s decision to close several Chicago-area and suburban stores.
The former Mariano’s store had previously occupied the building since 2014.
While officials have said they haven’t closed any doors on finding a new tenant for the space, Sunset Foods has no immediate plans to make any further offers, per previous reports.
The site listing describes the property as being built in 1995, though previous reporting has indicated the lot has held a grocery store since as early as the 1970s.
Residents who enjoy the convenience of the store’s proximity to the Edens Expressway and neighboring local communities have grown antsy for a new retailer.
“There is certainly disappointment among residents regarding the news,” said Terry Dason, president and CEO of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce.
Dason said the village is actively “aware that many residents would like to see the space continue as a grocery store” and has indicated they are working with Swanson to bring use to the space in a way that’s most beneficial for residents.
Several residents have expressed concerns over social media about the site turning into the equivalent of Wilmette’s Treasure Island, which has remained vacant since 2018 after 55 years of business as a grocery, according to Village Manager Michael Braiman.
In a March 2025 economic development report, Wilmette officials said that village staff have remained in communication with “numerous grocers regarding the former Treasure Island space,” but several barriers like a lack of available parking, low traffic volumes and significant upgrades required for a new tenant have inhibited local interest.
According to the report, Goodwill signed a 10-year lease on the property in 2019, but “ultimately decided not to move forward at the location,” officials said.
“It is our understanding the Goodwill lease expires in the next several years,” Braiman told Pioneer Press.
Northfield has discussed in recent weeks a nine-month moratorium on new office space for the village’s central business district, and the Village Board approved an ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium at its April 28 meeting.
“Whether or not we would want an office building to go into Mariano’s is one question, but would we want it anywhere in our downtown area, where we’re trying to improve walkability and have a community gathering space and really bring some new vibrancy to our downtown,” Mendrek added.
