Some West Town residents have raised a stink about the fact that a Dominick’s will soon be taking over the site of the Edmar grocery store at Chicago and Damen avenues. Fears of an SUV-led invasion were raised recently by a writer over at Yo’s Ukrainian Village journal. But it seems that the folk at Edmar Foods, far from being pushed out, are leasing the site to Dominick’s and should do well out of the deal.
Some locals in those parts tell Yo they’re glad that they’ll no longer have to drive over to a Dominick’s in Old Town for their groceries. The new store, which is due sometime late next year, will give even more impetus to the growth of retail along Chicago Avenue.
An incredible number of new shops, bars and restaurants have opened along Chicago between Ashland and Western over the last two or three years and so far the stretch hasn’t gone totally yuppie. There is still an interesting mix of little Mexican eateries and Eastern European bakeries and delis, along with a few dollar stores and other marginal businesses. Kara Selgado from the West Town Chamber of Commerce tells us that the chamber wants to keep a mix of shops along Chicago Avenue, but she fears that eventually the rents will rival those along hip Division Street. That said, Selgado believes that the neighborhood won’t become as yuppified as Wicker Park because of the solid core of Ukrainian and other homeowners who have lived in West Town for years. Yo wants to hear your thoughts, especially if you’re a local.