Tony's Fresh Market Seeks More Retail At Old Kmart Site

JOLIET, IL — Nearly five months after Joliet Patch broke the news that Tony's Fresh Market intends to redevelop the vacant Kmart store property another sign has sprouted up along West Jefferson Street.

This one is encouraging other businesses to consider locating on the Tony's property.

In particular, Tony's wants to attract other retail, including restaurants, to build on the out lots of the upcoming redevelopment.

During an interview Thursday at Joliet's City Hall, city economic development director Derek Conley told Joliet Patch that Tony's Fresh Market is currently finishing up an expansion project in Round Lake. Once that project is done, Conley expects Tony's will turn its attention to the Kmart property that Tony's acquired last December.

It may still be another two months before Tony's begins to renovate the Joliet Kmart, Conley said.

A new marketing brochure for 1801 West Jefferson St. for the rectangular-shaped lot said the 0.7-acre parcel is available for lease as part of the "new grocery store redevelopment." The real estate brochure produced by Cushman & Wakefield states that the Tony's Fresh Market is coming during the third quarter of 2021.

The flier also notes that 30,000 vehicles per day pass along the Jefferson Street corridor at Larkin Avenue. The existing outlots include a White Castle, a Circle K gas station and a Checkers fast-food restaurant.

Conley said the out lot closest to Jefferson Street could become a restaurant, but it does not have to necessarily be one.

"But we would like to see something that has a lot of sales tax generated," Conley said.

Conley said he's positive that work will get underway on the renovations to the Kmart property and that the property won't sit vacant for several years as has been the case on the east side of Joliet where El Guero purchased the old Certified Foods grocery store on Jackson Street but has not done anything with it.

Tony's "has their architects putting together plans for the Tony's in Joliet," he said. "They would like to start construction this year for sure. It probably won't be for a couple of months. They still need to submit their building drawings."

This will be the second Tony's Fresh Market in Joliet.

There is one along Route 59 near Caton Farm Road that has a Plainfield mailing address, but it's really in Joliet.