Tony's Finer Foods Filling Empty Strack Location

Jim W October 17, 2012 at 01:35 am

A sincere, good luck to Tony's.

oldschool October 17, 2012 at 01:47 am

I think the route 59 construction really screwed the retailers in this shopping area. Not being able to turn left into the lot when heading south on 59 is stupid. To get into the lot you have to turn left at Caton Farm and then wind your way to the stores. I feel sorry for McDonalds and Ace!

Julie Ferenzi October 17, 2012 at 12:34 pm

I hope they change the checkout and entrance design. It's the one of the things that drove me crazy about Strack and Van Til. It was impossible to run in quickly for a gallon of milk.

DoubleT October 17, 2012 at 12:37 pm

I think Caputos would have had a better chance. The other comment about not being able to make a left turn into the lot from the S/B lane ia a valid one. Tonys will struggle. Jewel is close but very overpriced. Aldis is low end for people on a budget, Dominicks is not too far away, usually empty. Walmart is always a zoo but doesnt carry everything. Good luck they"ll need it!

P-Ville Lifer October 17, 2012 at 01:13 pm

I would have preferred to see Caputos as well; they're more well known in this area and I think they would have a thriving customer base. The one in Naperville is always busy no matter day or time you go there and I think one at Route 59 and Caton Farm would have been welcomed with open arms.

Infamous Steve October 17, 2012 at 01:55 pm

Yea they really did screw it all up over there.

Jerry October 17, 2012 at 02:07 pm

It is inconvenient, but there is another way in while heading south on 59. There is a light just past McDonalds and if you turn left there you come in between McD's and Ace Hardware. Then you are on the south end of the strip mall where the grocery store is located. As inconvenient as this whole area has become with limited left turn access off of 59 while travelling either north or south, something had to be done. There were constant accidents occuring in this stretch and the solid raised median eliminating left turns seems to help. The real issue at this intersection is people trying to get in and out of BP. People driving west on Caton Farm will go through the light and immediately try to turn left across three lanes of traffic rather than turning left at the light and making an easy right into BP. Add to the mix people travelling east on Caton Farm trying to beat the light and it's a recipe for disatster. Same with people exiting the station who want to go west on Caton Farm. It's a much safer option to travel through the parking lot and exit on the west side of Walgreens. Lots of bad accidents and a countdown to the first fatality.

Brandon October 17, 2012 at 04:53 pm

Rumor has it that Caputos wanted to go in there, but either they wanted way to much for the space, or the building owner would not work with them to make it happen. They think that it's such a prime location, but the above comments about getting in there prove otherwise. It has to be easy in and out from all directions, that is one of the reasons I shop at Walmart. Even getting in to Jewel can be a pain and they are VERY overpriced despite all the advertising that says otherwise. I wish them luck, but location is everything, and that's not a good one in my opinion.

cls October 17, 2012 at 05:12 pm

Good Luck! but I would rather have seen a Meijer or Trader Joes

Sarah October 17, 2012 at 05:15 pm

The address they listed above is Jewel's address!

Nicki October 17, 2012 at 05:34 pm

I agree with the Caputos statement. I would have loved to see that or a Meijer take SVTs place. Good luck to Tonys. However they have a lot of competition. Walmart,Target, Dominic's, jewel are all right there!!!

Ricki October 17, 2012 at 05:51 pm

That design is an old Cub Foods / Centrella design and I found it very frustrating as well.

Ricki October 17, 2012 at 05:53 pm

Tony's is the brother company to Caputos. And I absolutely dispise the layout of Caputos. I unfortunately would not shop there if it were to become a Caputos.

Karen Sorensen (Editor) October 17, 2012 at 07:54 pm

Sarah -- You are right. The address listed was incorrect in the story (but correct in the map). It's since been corrected.

Kevin S October 17, 2012 at 08:35 pm

It's designed that way because, given the neighborhoods these stores are generally located in, this retailer is more worried about their customers quickly running OUT with a gallon of milk. They might be right at home, I wish them luck.

Holly October 17, 2012 at 10:22 pm

I agree with Jerry about the BP at 59 and Caton Farm. Must we wait for someone to be killed before the state puts up a barrier to turning left while west bound on Caton Farm? As for the new grocery store, I'll check it out when it opens.

Ricki October 18, 2012 at 11:17 am

@Kevin - If you are familiar with the location on Rte. 59 where Cub Foods, then Strack and now Tony's will be located - it is a very safe / low crime area. Additionally, Tony's also has a location in Westchester; a very affluent near west suburb of the city.
The layouts are designed the way they are so a person would have to walk the entire store before reaching the grab and go items like milk, eggs, lunchmeat. This is done in the hope that the shopper will decide to buy something in addition to the single item they were running in for.

chest brockwell October 20, 2012 at 02:29 am

fairplay would have been better.......better prices

Sean October 28, 2012 at 08:38 pm

Berkots would thrive in that spot. They have the best meat in the area.

sally cruz November 8, 2012 at 02:43 am

Hopefully they will carry the items I need to make sofrito sooo tired of going to the city to get the items I need! No store out here sells recao, ajese dulce 2 main ingredients I need fresh!!! Guineos, ñame, yauatia, calavasa, batata for verduras when I make Bacalao guisao would be fantastic!!! Please say it's soooooo???

Anna November 10, 2012 at 06:53 pm

Sally, yes they do :) and they also carry sofrito already made. Their meats and deli are amazing, prices are great. I drive once a month to the one on Harlem so this is welcoming good news.

Christina November 12, 2012 at 08:43 pm

Can't wait!!! I used to shop at Tony's when I lived in the city. I still go to the North Riverside location. I AM SO HAPPY!!!! Lots of people out here are past shoppers of Tony's....they will be very successful in Plainfield/Joliet!!

Stacey Werrbach December 4, 2012 at 05:53 pm

I am so very happy also! When I lived in the city it was the only place I would shop! Their produce and deli are fabulous!!! Can't wait for them to open so sick of paying Jewel prices!!!!

Paul Franklin December 17, 2012 at 02:52 pm

Do they have a large organic/natural section? (Better than Dominics?)

TheTruth January 3, 2013 at 07:22 pm

For anyone who has never shoped at Tony's, well now they will have the PLEASURE to do so. There deli and produce departments are fresh, clean, and fantastic. They have a large selection of ethnic foods and organic too. As far as competition goes, well people will have to shop there and SEE the difference; great prices for BETTER food, you can't beat that. Walmart, Jewel, Dominicks..... BEWARE, because if people give Tony's a chance they'll never go back.

Marco January 10, 2013 at 02:17 am

Tony's is the best store I ever went into , they always have all the things I need , I live in Joliet , and I used to go all the way to the city for specialty things that other stores didn't ,I'm so happy .Tony's WELL COME !!!!""""""

Tom Calpin January 12, 2013 at 06:43 pm

Good luck to Tonys, wasn't impressed at all on my first visit. Lots of produce options but the quality wasn't there. Bought some green leaf lettuce and its starting to brown already seriously its a day and a half old. Good luck i'll be shopping elsewhere though.

John Tips January 12, 2013 at 07:02 pm

Another STUPID traffic pattern law!