The Chainlink

Mariano's Fresh Market

I generally try to keep my money as local as possible, but I was near Mariano's at Halsted and Madison last Thursday evening around 9 and needed a few things, and would have not been able to get to any local stores in time.

I had already been impressed with the amount of bike parking they had installed, but otherwise didn't know anything about the place beyond a vague perception that they were probably on the pricey side. My initial perception after passing the sushi and expresso bars, and the deli/bakery/produce areas on the way in was that the store was very upscale, but when I got to the aisles I found the prices were pretty low, especially the house brand stuff (Roundy's) and there was kind of a suprising assortment of foreign food of various kinds.  I ended up almost enjoying shopping, which I've almost come to dread in recent years....

Anyone else shop here? What do you think? Is it a local company? Is it just a subsidiary of Wal-Mart and I'm easily fooled?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 22, 2013 at 7:48pm
Did you also get a box of tissues?

Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:
Ok, I broke down since I was driving (yes, the rare car) by the Elston Mariano's, and what do you know? There's a shitload of the weep-with-joy cheddar ON SALE right now. From 10.99/lb. to 8.99. I bought a hunk.

I will only write back in with criticism - I fully trust this will be good stuff.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on December 22, 2013 at 9:26pm

No cheddar no cry,

no cheddar no cry.

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on December 24, 2013 at 12:40pm

H' - the cheese is just wrapped in plastic with the brown Mariano's label that says 5 YR Sharp White Cheddar. It's in the special cheese section, not with the kraft/borden stuff, usually near bread, olives and such. 

Shredded it into my grits this morning, teared up a bit. Picking some up on the way to Christmas.


h' 1.0 said:

No cheddar no cry,

no cheddar no cry.

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on December 25, 2013 at 8:03pm

I'm very sad to see Dominick's leaving. I've been shopping at the one near me since 1979. It feels like a death in the family. I'm fortunate in that it will be replaced by a Mariano's, possibly opening as early as March, I've read. Rumor has it that the Dominick's on Broadway and Thorndale will be taken over by Whole Foods. I've yet to set foot inside a Mariano's, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for that 5 YR Sharp White Cheddar.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on March 10, 2014 at 5:45pm

Having tasted delicious focaccia bread when I was a student in Italy, I found Mariano's focaccia bread, the one with fresh tomatoes, to be the best in the city so far.

All other markets that sold "focaccia" were a big disappointment.

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