New Mariano's Store To Include Artistic Nods To Famous Bronzeville Residents
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new Mariano's Fresh Market opening next summer in Bronzeville plans to bring a lot more than groceries to the neighborhood.
The 74,000-square-foot store under construction at Pershing Road and King Drive will include a nod to famous area residents; including Louis Armstrong, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ida B. Wells.
Bernita Johnson-Gabriel, executive director of Quad Communities Development Corporation, said her non-profit group aims to preserve the area's history and culture in the design of the new store, at the request of Roundy's Supermarkets CEO Bob Mariano.
"[Mariano] and his team have been very open to recommendations and suggestions as to who might be featured, and what type of artwork," she said.
Johnson-Gabriel said she's working to find the right mix of cultural and historical significance.
"It won't necessarily be a mural, but there will be probably some appliques to the exterior of the building, and then plenty of artwork inside," she said.
Podcast
Wilbur Milhouse III, CEO of Milhouse Engineering, is the general contractor for the project. He said his company is working hard to have "a strong minority presence, a strong local presence" during construction.
The project is expected to create 200 construction jobs, and 400 permanent jobs within the store, with many employees to come from the local community.
Milhouse said the new Mariano's will revitalize Bronzeville.
"The grocery store is the new social center of a community, where you can go and stop and have a coffee, or have lunch, or have a full meal," he said.
Milhouse's grandparents moved to Bronzeville from Georgia. His mother and his siblings were born there, and now he's moved back.
"This was full-circle for me to be able to do something to tell them about it, and them have a sort of connection with that location," he said.
The site has been vacant for a decade, but since Mariano's announced its plans to build a store there, other businesses have expressed interest in building on the site.
