Can't wait to have a quality store in town.

It will be sooooo nice to go to Mariano's vs. the Glorified 7-11 they call Jewel in Downtown Elmhurst....Dominicks and Jewel are going to be a ghost town once this place opens.....

While the Jewel is close to home for me, I am fed up with the attitudes of SOME of the people who work there in the early morning weekday hours. They have no concept of good customer service. There is usually only one cashier and two self-check outs open at a time when their customers are rushing to pick something up on their way to work. Numerous calls to management have not improved the situation. It will be refreshing to shop at a quality store with great customer service.

The site is just four walls and a roof now and they even haven't begun to accept work applications. My guess is it won't be opening till June.

With high prices I don't see them hurting Jewel as much as Dominick's. Jewel will be changing ownership by the end of the month and the new guys seem to know what they are doing.

It will be worth the wait. the prices are not high, it is roundys house brand on the labels. the employees are all well trained and friendly Sometimes Bob mariano is in the store and looks just like all the workers. I feel though that it will not bring in a huge amout of sales tax to Elmhurst because as mentioned above if people stop going to Jewel and dominicks and go to Marianos, it is just a wash. Plus a lot of south side people go to Petes market in Villa park I called the corp office and asked when they were opening and they have no idea. When they are ready to start hiring, they will have a job applcation site. In chicago they use the aldermans office.

I will continue to patronize Aldi's because of their good quality and low prices. I can buy a week's worth of groceries for my husband and me at Aldi's for approximately $40; sometimes the items will last us for a week and a half. I would have paid double that amount for the same items at Jewel or Dominick's, and no doubt at Mariano's once they open. No thanks! Thanks a lot, but no thanks!

I submitted a post, but somebody in authority must not have liked it because less than a minute after I posted it, GONE! Hmmm!

I'll try posting it again. I said that I will continue to patronize Aldi's because of their good quality and low prices. I can walk away with approximately $40 worth of groceries for my husband and me for a week, and sometimes they will last us for a week and a half. I would pay at least double that at Jewel or Dominick's, and probably also at Mariano's. So thanks a lot, but no thanks! Aldi's will continue to get my business!

Hi Ercie,
Nobody deleted your comment. Sometimes the comments take a minute to show up. I'm not sure why that happens, but you were not censored for your Aldi's comment :)

another Lincoln parent does mention that- But I agree with them. Unfortunately in these economic times you do what you have to do to save your family money and get by on your budget. Sometimes, there is just no way around it. You only have the money you have, and that's that.

Walmart is a hassle getting in and out of, doesn't have the selections of a traditional grocery store and (in Northlake anyway) caters more to minority tastes.

Don't go to the one in Northlake- that store is NASTY! And the one on 83 now is a Super Walmart, you can find pretty much everything. Bakery, deli, produce and even more general food choices now.

And they are open 24 hours which makes it more convenient for those of us who are already strapped for time during "normal" shopping hours.

Maybe my dream will come true one day (but I'm not holding my breath): uptown Jewel moves out and Trader Joe's moves in....ahhhh!

I think Mariano's should open a store in Western Springs! Perfect location is where the empty building is standing on the corner of Wolf and south of the tracks. I am sure the people would all love that. We all miss having a grocery store there. We are more than ready for Mariano's!!! I have been to the one downtown and it is great!

All grocery stores serve different demographics and often serve local needs as well as niche shoppers from elsewhere. Some people are willing to travel, some prefer the accessible and convenience of local grocers. What a highly competitive and brutal business to be in. There are so many places to buy groceries and each community has only so many dollars that can be applied to the purchase of groceries. The biggest benefit to specialized and unique stores is the draw from outside the community that increases local tax revenues. I often shop at our local downtown Jewel for many reasons. I would never consider Jewel a destination grocery chain that would compel me to travel to say Wheaton yet I do travel to Wheaton to shop Trader Joes . Marianos hopefully does this although the location makes me wonder if surrounding communities will shop in numbers sufficient to support sales revenue. If a store was located in Westmont it would get some local buyers but even more importantly it could heavily lean on surrounding communities.
We have the opposite situation. Markets will play out in due time. I wish everyone of the grocers success. Hopefully the new Marianos can be a driver to the success of the north side of Elmhurst. Elmhurst is a great community that is supported by a perfect location. All of the new homes are a very positive indicator and help support future tax revenues. The expressway access is wonderful for many businesses, will it help Marianos? I wonder.Time will tell.

I find Jewel on Schiller Road employes very helpful and courteous employees, but their prices are obscene! And I dislike all their signs containing false advertising, "YA GOTTA LOVE LOW PRICES." Try buying a week's worth of groceries for a family of four, and you won't their prices are all that "low." False advertising to deliberately trap the unsuspecting customer.

I would like it very much if Jewel were to close down and an Aldi's were to go up. I can dream, can't I?

All I have to say is HOORAY for Mariano's !!!! So glad one is being built closer to home. I always stop at the one located on western avenue in Chicago when I pick up my son from visiting his dad every other weekend. I like elmhurst Dominick's but there are never enough cashiers on duty- even on holidays. The villa park jewel is small and depressing. And don't even get me started on the staff at the route 83 walmart!!!! They are the most rude, unorganized, useless, and lazy bunch of individuals on this earth! So I am patiently awaiting the opening of Mariano's to save me from grocery store grief by giving me a clean, well stocked store with helpful and knowledgable staff . All I need now is a whole foods closer to home and I'll be living a dream!

I agree with Ken. Aldi's should not charge a shopping cart fee.

elle

Ken and Elle: Are you aware that there is no charge whatsoever for using Aldi's shopping carts? You ALWAYS get your quarter back when you return the cart to its rightful place. Often, after I have finished emptying my cart and there is a customer getting out of his/her car, that person will offer me a quarter and I turn my cart over to them and that's when I don't have to push the cart back into place. Now how do you figure that constitutes a charge for the use of an Aldi's cart? I'm not a genius when it comes to math, but I know for sure that the use of an Aldi's cart doesn't cost you a penny,unless you leave it in the middle of the parking lot with your quarter still inside the slot, and I have never seen any customer do that.

I only went to Aldi's once---walked out without buying a thing. I didn't know you get your quarter back but still---what an inconvenience! What if you need change for the cart? You have to go inside and wait for the cashier to give you change then go back out to get the cart?

The selections are pitiful. I needed two tomatoes but you can only buy them by the bag! Not one brand name in the whote place.

An Aldi's in Elmhurst would mean our town is becoming a slum.

Ken, it seems I have more knowledge regarding Aldi's than you. I have been patronizing Aldi's for years, whereas you said you went there just once. The quarter should not present a challenge. Regular Aldi's customers keep a quarter in one of the sections in their car tray and just pick it up before they leave the car. I'm sure you have change available when you go through a toll booth. Same principle. You make it sound hard, which it isn't.

As for the selections, they are not pitiful at all. Aldi's is always well stocked with the finest produce, meats, etc. And where is it written that you have to buy a "brand" name in order to get quality? Aldi's meat far surpasses ANY meat one can buy at a Jewel. Their center cut pork chops are always very fresh and melt in your mouth; Jewel's are like shoe leather. I ought to know; I have had experience with both.

I don't understand why you feel that having an Aldi's in Elmhurst would mean our town is becoming a slum. Alcohol, drugs, theft, etc. make it a "slum," not having an Aldi's in town. I have a friend whose husband is a multi-millionaire. She can afford to shop anywhere she wishes, but she almost always shops at Aldi's. She is a very down-to-earth, sensible person. She says she just can't see any reason for over-spending at Jewel or Dominick's when she can get as good quality, or better, at Aldi's.

You sound like a single fellow, in which case I would agree that Aldi's is most definitely not for you.

Actually, Don't give out the secret shopping store, Aldi's. We really don't need any more shopping there...It's crowded enough already!!!!

There is no better quality or service than the Aldi's I shop at! And I have found the same to be true when I have been on the road and stopped at other Aldi's here and there. Fine quality, the price is right, and the personnel are quick and courteous. Unless one is an Aldi's customer, I doubt that one is qualified to comment on one single negative of shopping at Aldi's.