Shoppers react to potential Jewel-Mariano’s merger
If you’re a Jewel or Mariano’s shopper, you may be wondering how this merge would affect your pantry and your pocket.
The parent companies of the grocery chains Mariano’s and Jewel-Osco are considering a merger. It’s hardly a done deal, but if you’re a Jewel or Mariano’s shopper, you may be wondering how this would affect your pantry and your pocket.
WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana went to Roscoe Village on the city’s North Side where there’s a Mariano’s and a Jewel-Osco right across the street from each other. She asked shoppers what they think about this potential merger.
Photo credit: (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Shoppers react to potential Jewel-Mariano’s merger
If you’re a Jewel or Mariano’s shopper, you may be wondering how this merge would affect your pantry and your pocket.
The parent companies of the grocery chains Mariano’s and Jewel-Osco are considering a merger. It’s hardly a done deal, but if you’re a Jewel or Mariano’s shopper, you may be wondering how this would affect your pantry and your pocket.
WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana went to Roscoe Village on the city’s North Side where there’s a Mariano’s and a Jewel-Osco right across the street from each other. She asked shoppers what they think about this potential merger.
Photo credit: (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Jewel has about 37 stores and there are about 24 Mariano’s. Here on the corner of North Western Ave and West Roscoe Street, Mariano’s and Jewel are 0.1 miles away from each other. I'm standing in Jewel’s parking lot and that’s where I meet John Joyce. He says he’s always shopped at Jewel’s as long as he can remember…
John Joyce: I don't think mergers are any - really good for the public in general. So, not really in favor of it?
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: And what do you think? I mean, if it does go through, what's that gonna do for you for your pocket for your life?
John Joyce: I really don't know. But usually that means things increase. I mean, when Mariano’s was first opened, they went over, bent over backwards trying to be customer friendly and customer service. That's kind of eased off a little bit. I'm more familiar with the layout and the Jewel anyway so…
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Cynthia Kim is here today because the cereal her husband likes is on sale at Jewel. She has 5 purple boxes of cheerios in her cart, but she says both stores have their pros and cons.
Cynthia Kim: Like they have the little cheese section in Mariano’s that Jewel doesn't really have. I don't know what quality is gonna happen because the doughnuts are better at Mariano’s, the chicken tenders are better. it's gonna be weird. I don't know what they're gonna do. it's always been jewel versus Mariano's before - Jewel versus Dominik's. I think everyone's just gonna go to the same place they used to go but if it closed down then where are you going to go? Aldi! Go to Aldi!
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Most of the jewel customers I spoke to frequent both stores. And then I walked over to the Mariano's… the first thing i noticed is there were way more cars in the Mariano's parking lot. After the quick walk over, I spoke to Tina who didn’t like the idea.
Tina: I would pick that they didn’t merge. I mean it kinda throws the little guy out the window.
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Did you grow up? Which stores did you go to?
Tina: I grew up with Jewel’s and Dominick’s. This used to be a Dominick's. So it's like the little guy’s getting pushed out.
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Lauren Rickter is from Ohio, where Kroger is based. She says she is used to shopping at Kroger.
Lauren Rickter: So I'm probably I guess supportive. Yeah…
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: They are right next to each other…
Lauren Rickter: It’s a little awkward. I have no idea, that's a good point.
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: When you do shopping you shop around at various places are mostly just..
Lauren Rickter: Ya know, I definitely shop around. I do Whole Foods, Mariano's, and then Tony's fresh market is right by my house.
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Do you ever shop at Jewels? no. no you don’t… okay.
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: Herman Otero says he worries we will only have big grocery stores.
Herman Otero: With that being said, I think we have a lot of little stores around here that appreciate people going in and shopping at them and things like that. So, I just think it's the future. And what can you do about it?
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: So do you think they'll get rid of one?
Herman Otero: I think one of these has to go, it's just too much footprint. I don't know why they do these things to tell you the truth, but I hope it's for the better.
Araceli Gomez-Aldana: But Otero says he hopes whatever happens… that it makes for better grocery shopping experience for customers. Araceli Gomez-Aldana, WBEZ News.
WBEZ transcripts are generated by an automatic speech recognition service. We do our best to edit for misspellings and typos, but mistakes do come through.