I’ve written a couple times about Ron Burkle, friend of the Clintons and supermarket robber baron. He had owned Dominick’s until the 1990s when he sold it to Safeway.
If you ever lived in Chicago (especially a while ago), the city is totally dominated by two chains Dominick’s and Jewel/Osco. Both are unionized and it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t be “mobbed up”
The Dominick’s in Park Ridge was very expensive, even compared to Jewel’s – but the store was still very busy. Dominick’s going under is about as unbelievable as a world without McDonald’s.
My first guess is this was pushed over the edge by Obamacare. One of the names floated to buy up the stores is Walmart – I really doubt that because Walmart is a general line retailer that also sells food. The stores are too small for that – but I hope it is true… What a kick in the face to the Chicago political establishment that would be. It’s hard to use zoning to keep out Walmart when the grocery stores have been there 50 years and all that is changing is a new sign out front (and non-union employees)
I suppose you can say the pizza joints are “mobbed up” and refer to the Chicago political establishment in the same blog now that you are safely outside the confines of Chicago, but aside from that you could be very perceptive too. With the advent of ObamaCare and its un-Affordable Health Care Act what really faces the political elites when so few folks actually sign-up for ObamaCare and the poor expect Cadillac Coverage? Will the voters (dead or alive) continue to support the ‘fat’ perks of the political elite with both their Cadillac Health Care and generous pensions? And, are you being prophetic with your assertion that ObamaCare pushed the pizza chain over the edge?
Keep us informed when Walmart does, or does not, buy the stores.
Oops, I wasn’t as clear as I could have been – Dominck’s is the dominant supermarket chain in Chicago. It’s now owned by Safeway out of California – Safeway is bailing because they’re losing money and don’t see a way to turn it around. Jewel is owned by Albertson’s, also out of California
Albertson’s had been out of Boise…. did they move?
I accept that – I had only known them from California (and they owned the Shaws chain in CT that had been big at one point). I see they’ve had a roller coaster ride on owners.
I believe they own A&P as well.