Interest ‘couldn’t be much better’ in Mariano’s site in Northfield, says village manager

There appears to be no shortage of interest in a prized development opportunity in Northfield.

Village Manager Patrick Brennan said Tuesday, March 18 during a committee of the whole session of the Village Board that the development group that owns the Mariano’s site in Northfield has “received interest and proposals from several grocery stores.”

Northfield officials announced in early February of this year that Mariano’s would not be renewing its lease and that the nationwide grocer will soon be leaving its location at 1822 Willow Road.

Brennan offered a brief update to the community in response to a question from Trustee Tracey Mendrek. According to Brennan, the group that owns the site is reviewing proposals to “try and see what meets the needs of both parties.”

Brennan noted that he asked representatives how the process has gone thus far and he received word back that “they couldn’t have asked for it to be much better as far as interest in the site.” He later added that the team is weighing its options and that it’s “really too early for us to know much more.”

As previously detailed by The Record, the site reportedly sold for $13.1 million in 2023 to the Swanson Development Group.

Brennan said that he believes the development team will bring a concept for the site forward to village officials to see if its plans are feasible and allowed under Northfield’s zoning code.

It’s imperative for the village to remain a “trusted party,” throughout the process, Brennan said, adding that officials are keeping any information they receive close to the vest.

“I understand for residents it’s probably a frustrating process because it seems like all of this is happening in secret. (But) It is. I’m sorry. It’s just the way it happens,” Brennan said. “People looking at leasing that site don’t want their interest in the site publicized because then if their competitor knows, they may get in a bidding war.”

Village staffers believe they have a “good idea” of what the board and residents would like to see at the site. Officials will discuss any proposed concepts for the site that they are unsure if the community would welcome in public meetings or forums, according to Brennan.

“To the extent we can when it’s ready, we’ll have information out but you’ll probably hear things kind of quiet for a while as we get closer to the end of that lease term,” Brennan said.

Mariano’s lease for the site expires this fall.

The 47,732-square-foot Mariano’s opened on Willow Road in 2014 after Mariano’s parent company (then Roundy’s, now Kroger) purchased the location, and 10 others, from fellow grocer Dominick’s, which had been in the location for the 38 years prior.

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