4 Dominick’s locations to turn full-fledged Jewel stores

Come January 12, Jewel-Osco, part of privately-held grocery company New Albertsons Inc., will close the four Dominick’s locations it acquired from Safeway, with plans to reopen them under its own banner three days later.

The locations will be converted to full-fledged Jewel stores and are scheduled to reopen on January 16. The in-store pharmacies will remain open during the transition, according to Jewel spokeswoman Allison Sperling.

Jewel and New Albertson’s Inc. bought the stores in October, and have been operating them under the Dominick’s banner during the interim. The stores are located at 1340 S. Canal St. and 2550 N. Clybourn Ave. in Chicago; 14200 S. Bell Rd., Homer Glen; and 1340 Patriot Blvd., Glenview.

Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Supermarkets acquired 11 Dominick’s locations for $36 million, with plans to convert them to Mariano’s stores in phases beginning next month. Each will be closed for at least 30 to 45 days, with the pharmacies also remaining open during the transition.

California-based Safeway Inc. announced in October that it would shutter the nearly 90-year-old Dominick’s chain and exit the market. Most of the 72 Chicago-area Dominick’s stores closed their doors for good on December 28 due to lack of sales and overall poor performance.

A number of grocery chains are in negotiations to buy some or all of the 57 unsold Dominick’s locations, according to sources.

Among those stores, only the north suburban Bannockburn location remains open, getting a reprieve until January 25 as per its lease agreement, according to a Safeway spokeswoman.