CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she hopes the city is able to quickly find a grocery store to fill the spot abandoned by the Aldi chain on Chicago’s West Side.
At Lightfoot’s urging, the City Council voted overwhelmingly to spend up to $700,000 to buy the site of the grocery store Aldi abruptly shut down last October.
West Side Ald. Jason Ervin pleaded with his colleagues, saying the situation in West Garfield Park is dire. There are no grocery stores left in the community, he said.
There were two “no” votes, one alderman voicing concern that no other store has yet agreed to come in. But Lightfoot said efforts to land a new store are underway.
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During the debate, Ald. Ray Lopez suggested it was dangerous to use city money to buy property when you don’t know who, if anyone, will use it. But the mayor said this is something Chicago must do.
She said she hopes for results soon.
South Side Ald, Leslie Hairston highlighted the lack of any grocery stores in that West Side neighborhood now. She said it took six years to get a store in her ward after Dominick’s closed, so she agrees with the mayor’s efforts.
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