Grayslake Piggly Wiggly to be Farmer's Market Place

It's official. The site of the Grayslake Piggly Wiggly will be a new grocery store--Farmer's Market Place.

The new store is expected to open by April 1, 2013. The Piggly Wiggly will close Dec. 15 so that a full-store remodel can take place.

The closing of the Grayslake store was announced in August by owner David Karczewski, who also owns the Antioch and Zion locations. Karczewski said failed negotiations with the building's landlord was the reason.

Since then, residents have been eager to know what would be moving in.

Farmer's Market Place owner and operator Vicky Kouantas told Patch Tuesday that the new store will still have a Piggly Wiggly connection.

Piggly Wiggly Midwest, which is headquartered in Sheboygan, Wis., and supplies more than 100 stores, will be Farmer's Market Place's primary wholesaler for a variety of food and other items.

Fresh produce, said Kouantas, will be purchased from Chicagoland produce markets.

"We're going to keep some of the products people know and love, but our produce will come from markets downtown," Kouantas told Patch.

New look

The new Farmer's Market Place, according to a press release, will have an expanded product line and a produce department twice the size of the current Piggly Wiggly.

The store will also feature an in-store bakery, a full-service customer-friendly deli department, a fresh meat department offering Certified Angus Beef and a wide variety of fresh and frozen seafood along with a full liquor department.

“We are excited to bring Farmer’s Market Place to Grayslake,” stated Kouantas in a press release.

“We are confident that we can provide the residents of Grayslake with a superior grocery shopping experience by offering first quality produce, meats, deli, dairy, bakery, imported and domestic grocery items, and we’re hoping to quickly establish ourselves as Grayslake’s premier full service grocery store. In addition to offering a great assortment of grocery items, we will provide our guests with personable service in a clean and warm environment."

Paul Butera, Piggly Wiggly Midwest chairman stated they are pleased with the new arrangement as wholesaler. “Customers will continue to receive aggressive weekly advertised specials along with the value offered in our store brand products.”

Jobs

The close will affect roughly 40 full and part-time employees, though Karczewski said he hoped to place many employees at his other Piggy Wiggly locations.

Kouantas told Patch Tuesday that applications to work at Farmer's Market Place have been made available to current Piggly Wiggly employees.

"Whoever wants to work would probably stay, if they can withstand the time between closing and reopening (in April)," she said.

Piggly Wiggly to Remain Open Until Dec. 15