CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Woodlawn neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side is celebrating the grand opening of modern, new Jewel after decades without a grocery store.
It is a story that’s not without controversy, because of an appearance by the indicted alderman of the ward.
The store opened Thursday morning to fanfare on the 6100 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue.
Jewel Osco President Paul Gossett seemed a little blown away.
“Unbelievably there was 40 people waiting outside the doors this morning at 6 a.m. to shop at our store. This is great, this is exciting," he said.
The place was packed with shoppers during the grand opening ceremony. The management team was treated like rock stars as they were introduced to applause from on-lookers.
“Yes this is a new grocery store,” Emanuel said, “we’re cutting a ribbon upon something more because Woodlawn is winning again.”
He said there are six grocery stores within a mile of his home on the North Side.
“There are people in our city who drive a mile to find one grocery store and that is not right." Emanuel said.
Margaret Brewer has lived in the neighborhood since the mid-50's.
“This is an exciting day, a great day,” she said.
She said she once lived on the land where the store sits today and added that “Woodlawn has been a food desert for a long time.”
Cochran said, “we played a major role in bringing this store here.”
WBBM Newsradio approached him and asked if he’d talk about his expected guilty plea to corruption.
“No,” he said, “I’m not even going to comment in it.”
He wouldn’t say if it’s the same plea that he had earlier rejected.
Cochran will be in federal court later this month.