“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Groceries, Choices After Jewel Closing

Most people I believe go from grocery to grocery store shopping for the best buy in groceries. Thinking back, I remember my parents shopping in La Salle, Peru and even going to Lou's Super Market in Oglesby. The local small corner grocery which was often in the middle of the block existed into the 1950's and some even later and they supplied the people who did not drive or for the gallon of milk and pound of hamburger and home made sausage for those who lived close. At one time, Peru had Denlers first in the Mirror bldg location, then to Berry Bearing location and finally to the place where the Aldi store is located. Lou's Super Market and I believe Kroger before that. Piggly Wiggly, Eagle Foods and then Jewel followed. HyVee is the newcomer to the area. K Mart carries groceries and so does Wal Mart. Small but mighty is Aldi's.

La Salle had National Tea, A & P, LaSalle Super Market (Reviglios) followed by Ferretti's which has become Illinois Valley Foods & Deli. Sav A Lot supplies groceries for the east end of LaSalle and elsewhere which was Urbanowski's before that.

Do you find yourself traveling out of town, perhaps to Ottawa or elsewhere? I have heard that people even travel to the Naperville area to Caputos or Whole Foods.

Where have the Jewel customers gone? I believe many of them live close to that Location on Shooting Park Rd or they are our senior citizens who drive but like to avoid highway travel.

Should our economic director be looking about for another grocery?

Have your shopping habits changed? Do you go to Wal Mart? or out of town? or only to Hyvee?

Bob Vickery indicated in the N.T. article, that all freezers and counters have been removed from the Jewel location and that a grocery is unlikely to locate there. The entire strip is for sale. Price was listed in the N.T. but can't find my paper with the aricle.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Jewel own the equipment? If not, who did and why would it be removed therefore eliminating the possibility of another grocery store?

Anonymous said...

Rumor is Kroger is moving in.

Anonymous said...

Please bring back Econo Foods!!

Peru Town Forum said...

I really did like Econo Foods. It is hard to believe Peru will only have one choice for groceries without going elsewhere. Very few people will head off to WalMart for just a few items or something needed on the spur of the moment. Aldi's is good for a few things but no speciality items.
This is not putting down Hyvee because they do provide a service and jobs for many people but it will be hard to get used to limited choices.
I do believe that Illinois Valley Foods in La Salle has gained a lot of the Peru Jewel shoppers as I see a lot more cars in their parking lot recently.

Anonymous said...

Does It strike you that the two Store closing Jewel,K-mart, always had 1 Checkout open. Hy-Vee always has many open

Anonymous said...

I like Illinois Valley Foods but since the original owners sold it, it seems the choices of meat and other things are getting smaller not to mention they are really expensive - the orginal owners should have waited to sell!

Peru Town Forum said...

6:09 AM
Jewel was much smaller and I never had a problem checking out and both places would call an extra checker when more customers needed to checkout.
At both places you could go to the service counter to check out and you can do the same thing at Walmart and Target.
Actually one of the longest lines I have been in in a long time was Walmart one evening and they did not open another lane.

Anonymous said...

Jewel is gone and the reason is because they did not have enough shoppers. Our local economy will not be able to generate enough business to validate a high end grocery chain. Business in todays world is much more than calling a place to invite them to town. Is about market shares, profit margins and local demographics. You have stated many times that we have a older population with little disposable income. Can you price beat Hy-Vee, Walmart, Aldi's? Not a chance. The area that has been vacated by Jewel is a prime location. There will be retail in that area soon, but don't count on a grocery store. We all want to talk about how good Jewel, outstanding service or the only union shop around. Our spending said go for the best price!

Peru Town Forum said...

2:14PM

Actually my first choice is usually Big Lots for canned or packaged items. No longer can we shop in only one store, it means shopping at many to find the products that you like at the best price.
We do have a variety of stores that offer deli and ready cooked and again each one of us has our personal choice on that.
I do realize that we are unlikely to attract another grocery but it also means that no matter what city we happen to go to will find me checking out their grocery stores to find the products I got used to buying and liked but are no longer available.

Anonymous said...

I believe the choices at Illinois Valley Food is getting bigger and better since the new owners took over. And the prices are very competetive. Their meat is cheaper than Hy Vee. I purchased 15 bottles of Powerade with their coupon for a total of $7.59. Never got it that cheap at Hy Vee.