Newest Joe Caputo's Store -- Arlington Heights

Okay -- did a search and just found 8-year-old posts on the one in Palatine -- so I hope this is not amiss.

As I drove past the new Joe Caputo's in Arlington Heights (Rand Rd. where it crosses Palatine and Arlington Heights Roads), I noticed a tiny little sign saying "now open." I thought that seemed rather understated, but I stopped. As I wandered around the handsome store, I chatted with a few people, and I learned that tomorrow is actually the Grand Opening. This was just kind of a test run today, to make sure everything worked before the BIG DAY. So if you're in the area tomorrow, apparently there will be sales and various other inducements to lure shoppers into the store. Like the other Caputo's stores, produce is very well priced. Everything else is lovely, with prices ranging between good and what you expect -- probably in the Garden Fresh or Fresh Farms price range -- but a lot of really interesting things that I haven't seen at other stores. Olive bar is a buck more than the one at Fresh Thyme, 10 minutes farther south on Rand. Seafood prices comparable to ones I saw at Ultra Foods last week. Probably too much competition in this area to not be close to what other folks are doing, at least in the foods everyone carries. Only time will tell if they remain as impressive looking as they are on the day before the Grand Opening.

I also noticed a couple of days ago that the big Dominick's that used to be at the corner of Sanders Rd. and Dundee Rd. in Northbrook is also being turned into a Caputo's. So big growth in a short period for them.

great news! thanks for the tip, I'll head there in the morning.

As far at the expansion goes...
Trust me... they have been training cashiers at the Palatine store for weeks!
I hope to get back the regular speedy checkers soon.

The one thing that had been delayed was their liquor license -- so depending on what happens tomorrow morning, that area may not be stocked. But everything else is lavish in its abundance.

And do hope you get your regular checkers back.

I do like seeing the promotions within the store... Checker to head checker to front of the store manager, I've seen it happen over the last few years. Glad to see hard work rewarded

mhill95149 wrote:I do like seeing the promotions within the store... Checker to head checker to front of the store manager, I've seen it happen over the last few years. Glad to see hard work rewarded

The butcher at the new Caputo's was also at Dominick's, and he recognized me (which is amazing, since I only shopped at Dominick's about once a year), but he was eager to tell me how much nicer Caputo's was to work for than some of the other places in the area. "I have 40 years experience, and Ultra Foods wanted to give me 12 hours a week for $8.50 an hour. The heck with them. Caputo's gave me all the hours I wanted and at a better rate. This is a great place."

Nice to hear they also promote from within. Looks like they've figured out how to grow loyalty. That's not just good for the employees -- it's also good for the shoppers -- and really good for the store, as well.

So I agree -- glad to see hard work rewarded.

According to Crain's, Caputo's is being sued in federal court - and not really disputing that they are in the wrong. Interesting tale.

The 3-month-old (!) Elk Grove Village store is closing this weekend. Looking pretty bad for Joe.

www.dailyherald.com/article/20160211/bu ... 160219740/

Looking pretty bad for Joe.

No joke. The feds don't play.

Joe Caputo & Sons closed a third grocery store Sunday, citing in a Facebook post "a large and unexpected financial burden" related to its expansion into former Dominick's stores. The Elk Grove Village store's weekend closing followed the shutdown of locations in Northbrook and Arlington Heights last year.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... story.html

This is some pretty serious stuff, from the end of the Trib piece:

The lawsuit also said there were other unpaid vendors in addition to Marano.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan ordered Joe Caputo & Sons to turn over a full accounting of the company's liabilities and assets to Marano's attorney if the debt isn't paid within seven days.

The judge's order also gave Marano the power to manage the "continued operation and/or liquidation" of Caputo & Sons stores in Des Plaines, Palatine, Algonquin, Northbrook, Arlington Heights and Elk Grove until the debt is paid in full.

So, Marano apparently can take over the remaining Caputo stores in Des Plaines, Palatine, and Algonquin, and run them until the debt is paid off. Whoa.

Looks like the end of the road is near for Caputo & Sons, according to Crain's:

The last three remaining Joe Caputo & Sons grocery store locations will go up for auction in May, according to the entities retained to sell the stores.