Piggly Wiggly to Remain Open Until Dec. 15

A sign has been posted at the Grayslake Piggly Wiggly supermarket at 815 Center St., relaying the message that their last day will be Dec. 15, not Nov. 3 as originally thought.

Store hours as of Oct. 29 will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Store manager Tim Thrall told Patch the building's landlord, Vicky Kouantas, gave them notice of the new closing date about 10 days ago.

Thrall said they were told the new owner wants all the equipment (shelving, cases, freezers, etc.) left inside the store.

"At first, they wanted nothing left (so the space would be returned to what it looked like pre-lease). Now they don't need it left empty," said Thrall.

Because of this, said Thrall, the Pig can remain open another six weeks beyond the original closing date, and continue to sell off grocery inventory.

Some of the items will be able to be transferred to other Piggly Wiggly stores in Antioch and Zion, said Thrall, but the Grayslake location expects to have a sale, "maybe 10 percent off," starting around Dec. 5.

Residents are eager to learn what's going to inhabit the space. Thrall said an announcement could come soon.

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.

"Closing was not something we wanted to do. We wanted to continue to grow in Lake County," Karczewski told Patch in August.

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.

Piggly Wiggly to Close in November