Sunset Foods, Northfield officials talk timeline and other plans for takeover of Mariano’s site

Sunset Foods was met with applause Thursday night as the local grocer cleared its first steps in joining the community.

Representatives from Highland Park-based Sunset Foods — which, as first reported by The Record on July 31, is hoping to take over the former Mariano’s site at 1822 Willow Road — appeared in front of Northfield’s Plan & Zoning Commission Thursday evening, Aug. 7, when commissioners unanimously supported the company’s two special use requests via voice vote.

One request will allow Sunset Foods to operate as a grocery store, a special use in Northfield according to village staff, and the other granted it preliminary approval to construct an out-building at the northwest corner of the parking lot.

The standing-room-only-crowd of approximately 50 residents applauded after the commission approved Sunset’s request to open in the village.

The property at 1822 Willow Road has held a grocer for at least 50 years. It was a Mariano’s from 2014 until the store’s closure in June, and prior to 2013, it had been a Dominick’s.

Village staff previously said that they hoped to find another grocer to take over the property.

While the special use permits were approved, Sunset Foods is not expected to actually move in until 2026 or later.

Christopher Canning, an attorney representing Sunset Foods, said the property owner, SDGDCG Northfield, and Sunset have yet to formally agree to terms; however, he added that “negotiations are ongoing daily.”

Mariano’s lease does not expire until Oct. 31, and Canning said the earliest date a new lease could take effect is Nov. 1.

Once Sunset Foods does negotiate a lease, John Cortesi, president and CEO of Sunset Foods, said “our plans will accelerate quite substantially going forward.”

Commissioner Steven Hirsch asked Cortesi if he had an idea of what kind of work might need to be done to the store.

“We’ve done some preliminary assessment on the space,” Cortesi said. “As far as we know, there’s some substantial work that needs to be done on the interior.”

He later added that it’s “more than likely” construction will take up the majority of 2026.

Cortesi added that construction may include improving the exterior of the building, but no expansion is planned.

In response to a question from Commissioner Kathy Estabrooke, Cortesi said Sunset Foods expects to employ around 100 people spread throughout the seven-day work week.

He added that Sunset Foods expects to be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with reduced hours on holidays and closing only on Christmas Day.

In addition to Sunset Foods, the Plan & Zoning Commission also granted unanimous approval for a 12,000 square foot “outlot” to be built on the northwest corner of the Willow Road property.

Peter Friedman, an attorney representing the property owner, said the planned building, which does not have a finalized lease or a tenant, is “critical for the economic viability of the property and the lease, so it’s very important that the ownership have the ability to do something with that outlot.”

Although there is no current tenant, Friedman indicated that a financial institution would be a good fit.

Both Friedman and Steve Gutierrez, the village’s community development director, said that whatever ends up proposed for the outlot would have to go through an additional special use review.

Friedman also said that there will be only one tenant in the building.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.