Residents Sound Off on What Should Replace Palatine Dominick's Stores

Safeway, the parent company of Dominick's, announced last week it will sell all 72 of its Chicago-area Dominick's stores, including the Dominick's stores at 615 E. Dundee Road in Palatine and 720 W. Euclid in Palatine. 

With news of Dominick's departure from Palatine, local residents sounded off on Facebook and Patch last week on what they thought should replace Dominick's. Many suggested replacing it with a different type of grocery store, such as a Mariano's, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Woodman's Food or a Piggly Wiggly.

One Palatine Patch Facebook follower, Dawn Brown, commented that any grocery store would do as she "didn't want to drive across town for her groceries." 

"Anything would be better than nothing," Brown said.

Other suggestions included a Babys "R"Us or Toys "R"Us store, a Tilted Kilt or a movie theater. 

Around the Chicago area, competitor Jewel-Osco has already purchased four of the Dominick's stores: two in Chicago, one in Homer Glen and one in Glenview, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Cincinnati-based Kroger Inc. is interested in at least 15 Dominick's locations for its Food 4 Less stores, Crain's reports.

Milwaukee-based Roundy's (owner of Chicago's Mariano's grocery stores) also has expressed interest in purchasing several Dominick's. Roundy's CEO Bob Mariano's roots are with Dominick's, having worked in every area of the company before becoming Dominick's president and CEO.

Competition from newer grocery stores popping up has created this market-share problem for Dominick's and other traditional grocery retailers, according to the Tribune article. 

Karen Chadra contributed to this article.