Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox company| name = Dominick's | logo = [[File:Dominick's Logo.svg|200px]] | type = [[Grocer]], [[Subsidiary]] of [[Safeway Inc.]] | location = [[Oak Brook, Illinois]]| locations = | foundation = {{Start date|1918}} ([[Chicago, Illinois]])| defunct = {{End date|2013|12|28}}| industry = [[Grocery|Retail (Grocery)]]| products = Bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor | homepage = }} '''Dominick's''' was a Chicago-area [[grocery store]] chain and subsidiary of [[Safeway Inc.]]. Dominick's distribution center was located in [[Northlake, Illinois|Northlake, Ill.]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://suppliers.safeway.com/usa/pdf/dc_directory.pdf |title=Distribution Centers |website=[[Safeway Inc.]] |access-date=May 13, 2010 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}} {{dead link|date=December 2015}}</ref> while its management offices were located in [[Oak Brook, Illinois|Oak Brook, Ill.]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=5692 |title=Dominick's losing its local flavor |last=Gallun |first=Alby |work=Crain's Chicago Business |date=June 17, 2002 |accessdate=December 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Hoover's Masterlist of Major US Companies, A-Z |publisher=[[Hoover's]] |year=2005 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=dWvM6SmvD1wC&q=%22dominick%27s%22+%22Oak+Brook,+IL%22&dq=%22dominick%27s%22+%22Oak+Brook,+IL%22&hl=en&ei=-45ZTbvxD8igtwfH4qT9DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ |via=[[Google Books]] |access-date=14 February 2011 |quote=DOMINICK'S FINER FOODS, INC. 711 Jorie Blvd. Oak Brook, IL 60523 |isbn=9781573111072 |oclc=62147766 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> ==History== ===Founding=== Dominick DiMatteo, born in Sicily, founded the chain in 1918. The second Dominick's opened in 1934. In 1950, the DiMatteos opened their first [[supermarket]], a {{convert|14000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} store.<ref name="answers">{{cite web |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/dominick-s-finer-foods-inc |title=Dominick's Finer Foods, LLC |publisher=Answers.com |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}} {{dead link|date=December 2015}}</ref> ===Expansion=== By 1968 the chain had reached 19 stores. The family elected to sell their store to the [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] company [[Fisher Foods]].<ref name=ct-1968may14>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/05/14/page/65/article/fisher-fazio-and-dominicks-agree-to-merge |title=Fisher-Fazio and Dominick's Agree to Merge |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 14, 1968 |page=C7 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}} [http://search.proquest.com/docview/175715800/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> The DiMatteos continued to operate the chain under the financial backing of Fisher Foods. Under Fisher, Dominick's acquired 24 stores plus a 462,000-square-foot distribution center in Northlake from [[Kroger]] in two separate transactions in 1970.<ref name=ct-1970jul18>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/07/18/page/115/article/seven-kroger-units-bought-by-dominicks |title=Seven Kroger Units Bought By Dominick's |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=July 18, 1970 |page=B7 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |quote=Dominick's Finer Foods Stores has completed purchase of a 462,000-square-foot Kroger distribution center...and six Kroger retail supermarkets. The acquistion of the six retail outlets will bring the number of stores operated by Dominick's to 27.}} [http://search.proquest.com/docview/169865823/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref><ref name=ct-1970nov13>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/11/13/page/71/article/dominicks-buys-18-kroger-food-stores |title=Dominick's Buys 18 Kroger Food Stores |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=November 13, 1970 |page=C11 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |quote=Dominick's Finer Foods has announced it bought 18 more Kroger stores, to increase its food chain to 45 stores. Dominick's purchased Kroger's Northlake distribution center and several other stores.}} [http://search.proquest.com/docview/169919824/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> The new acquisitions from Kroger increased the number of stores to 45. The Northlake distribution center, which was original built by Kroger in 1961,<ref name=cdt-1960jun23>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1960/06/23/page/101/article/begin-kroger-expansion-in-chicago-area |title=Begin Kroger Expansion In Chicago Area: Distributor Unit, Store Started |newspaper=[[Chicago Daily Tribune]] |date=June 23, 1960 |page=b5 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |quote=Kroger company Wednesday broke ground for a giant distribution center in Northlake from which it will service 67 Chicago area stores. The distribution center, on a 55 acre site in Northlake industrial district, will have 10-1/2 acres of warehousing facilities and offices under one roof. The structure is scheduled for completion late in 1961.}} [http://search.proquest.com/docview/182509722/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> was used by Dominick's until the chain was closed in 2014.<ref name=ccb-2014aug13>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20140813/CRED03/140819980/developer-plans-90-million-warehouse-project-on-dominicks-site |title=Developer plans $90 million warehouse project on Dominick's site |newspaper=[[Crain's Chicago Business]] |date=August 13, 2014 |first=David Lee |last=Matthews |quote=Pleasanton, California-based Safeway Inc., which sold the property, exited the Chicago market last year and closed its 72 Dominick's stores here. At least 28 stores were still vacant as of yesterday.}}</ref> By the 1980s the family had become unhappy with the agreement and bought back the chain in 1981 for $100 million.<ref name="answers" /><ref name=ct-1981dec31>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1981/12/31/page/26/article/dominicks-is-sold-to-its-former-owner |title=Dominick's is sold to its former owner |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=December 31, 1981 |page=B2 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |quote=The operation has grown from 17 stores in 1968 to 71 stores today.}} [http://search.proquest.com/docview/172507011/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> The DiMatteos continued to expand and had acquired 4 stores from [[Kohl's Food Stores|Kohl's]]<ref name=ct-1982apr22>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1982/04/22/page/58/article/scot-lad-foods-eyes-purchase-of-butera |title=Scot Lad Foods eyes purchase of Butera |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=April 22, 1982 |page=b6 |last=Lazarus |first=George |quote=Butera recently sought unsuccessfully in acquiring four stores of the Kohl's Food Stores Chicago area operation but those units were picked up by the Dominick's chain. Kohl's eight other Chicago area stores were sold to Eagle.}} [http://search.proquest.com/docview/172650787/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> and 16 stores from [[Eagle Food Centers|Eagle]] in 1982 and 1985 respectively.<ref name=ct-1985may24>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-05-24/business/8502020137_1_eagle-food-stores-chicago-market-iowa-and-indiana |title=Dominick's To Purchase 16 Eagle Food Stores |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 24, 1985 |last1=Lazarus |first1=George |last2=Gorman |first2=John |last-author-amp=yes}}</ref> In 1986, Dominick's esperiment with a discount grocery store concept called Jerry's Deep Discount Centers with just 3 units, but the experiment was terminated after a few months of operation.<ref name=ct-1987feb24 /> ===Store design during Dominick's heyday=== In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dominick's experimented with new large "food and drug" combo stores. Dominick's was one of the first to experiment with exposed-ceiling sales areas, exposed structural elements such as piping and HVAC ducts, large-scale state-of-the-art telephone systems and [[Point of sale|POS]] systems, video departments, [[Photographic processing|one hour photo]], [[bulk foods]], and many other "new" 1980s concepts.<ref>{{cite book |title=Market, Supermarket & Hypermarket Design |first=Martin |last=Pegler |year=1989 |publisher=Retail Reporting Corp. |isbn=9780934590334 |oclc=21565944 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In the 1990s, Dominick's took the "food and drug" combo to the next level with the introduction of the Dominick's Fresh Store in 1993.<ref name=ct-1993nov14>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-11-14/business/9311150052_1_supermarkets-national-restaurant-association-gourmet-pizza |title=Dominick's Takes Stab At Takeout |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=November 14, 1993 |first=Nancy |last=Ryan}}</ref> The Dominick's "Fresh Store" introduced prepared foods, in-store restaurants/cafés, [[Starbucks]] cafés, soft lighting, upscale subtle graphics, uniform products signage, and a general European Market feel to the Dominick's stores. During the late 1990s, the Fresh Stores were the main expansion model for Dominick's and was rolled out to all new stores including former Omni Superstores, up until the purchase by Safeway. Safeway bought Dominick's in 1998 and put an abrupt halt to the Fresh Stores, instead rolling out their own prototype with the Fresh Store logo on the outside of the store.<ref name="Crain's Chicago Business">{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=18836 |title=Safeway's mistakes offer lesson for new Jewel owner |publisher=Crain's Chicago Business |date=2005-12-16 |first=Julie |last=Jargon}}</ref> Safeway still put "The Fresh Store" cursive logo on the outside of the stores, and in many stores, the Fresh Store concepts such as cafés, fresh prepared foods and European store layout format were continued. Safeway implemented its own store layouts as stores were remodeled, and their own house brands such as Safeway Select. ===1990s: Takeovers=== In 1993, Dominick DiMatteo, Jr. died from lung cancer.<ref name=ct-1993nov09>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-11-09/news/9311090202_1_retail-food-outlets-chicago-area-chain |title=Dominick Dimatteo Jr.: Built Supermarket Chain |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=November 9, 1993 |first=Kenan |last=Heise}}</ref> According to the local press, his daughters and son did not have the same passion for the supermarket business. There was corporate infighting that also contributed to the family selling the chain. It took three years before the company was sold to a [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]-based grocery investment firm headed by [[Yucaipa Companies]].<ref name=ct-1995feb03>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-02-03/news/9502030119_1_chain-jewel-food-stores-sale |title=California Giant To Snap Up Home-grown Dominick's: Old-line Family Firm To Bring $500 Million |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=February 3, 1995 |first=George |last=Lazarus}}</ref><ref name="Duff">{{cite web |last=Duff |first=Mike |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FNP/is_6_44/ai_n13619837 |title=A taste of Calif. lifestyle in Dominick's Chicago stores |work=DSN Retailing Today |date=March 28, 2005 |accessdate=December 28, 2013}} {{dead link|date=December 2015}}</ref> In 1998, the chain's then 116 stores were acquired by [[Safeway Inc.]]<ref name=ct-1998oct14>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-10-14/news/9810140106_1_safeway-dimatteo-fresh-stores |title=For Dominick's, Sale A New Start: $1.85 Billion Safeway Deal May Fuel Growth |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=October 14, 1998 |first=Jon |last=Bigness}}</ref> Safeway soon began to sell its own private-label brands at Dominick's locations, replacing Dominick's former private-label brands. According to a grocery business consultant, "Dominick’s focused on purchasing produce and meat on quality first, price second. Safeway did just the opposite."<ref name="Crain's Chicago Business" /> Dominick's lost market share and profits following the Safeway takeover. Safeway tried to imitate the model that had been successful in California, but Chicago's strong ethnic background did not mesh well with the California shopping experience. Between 2002 and 2007, Dominick's market share in the Chicago region declined from 24.4 percent to 14.5 percent ([[Jewel (supermarket)|Jewel-Osco's]] 40.5 percent was the market's leader).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-02-13/business/0702130239_1_chicago-market-fresh-store-concept-market-share |title=Roundy's joins Chicago grocery fray |work=Chicago Tribune |date=February 13, 2007 |accessdate=December 28, 2013 |first=John |last=Schmeltzer}}</ref> Safeway unsuccessfully attempted to sell the Dominick's chain in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2005/03/07/daily10.html |title=Talk of Safeway sale of Dominick's gets louder |last=Goll |first=David |work=East Bay Business Times |date=March 7, 2005 |accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref> Safeway then reported Dominick's financial information as a discontinued operation,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2003/05/06/0000950149-03-001039/Section7.asp |title=Safeway Inc., Form 10Q |work=Securities and Exchange Commission |date=May 6, 2003 |accessdate=December 28, 2013 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> but later, Safeway announced that it was retaining the chain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/371923,CST-FIN-safe05.article |title=Safeway has no intention to sell Dominick's chain |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 5, 2007 |accessdate=December 28, 2013 |first=Francine |last=Knowles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930070710/http://www.suntimes.com/business/371923,CST-FIN-safe05.article |archive-date=2007-09-30 |deadurl=yes}}</ref> After closing more than 20 stores since its acquisition, Safeway announced in February 2007 that it would close another 14 stores in the Chicago area and convert 20 existing stores to the lifestyle format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=23729 |title=Dominick's to close 14 local stores |work=Crain's Chicago Business |date=February 2, 2007 |accessdate=December 28, 2013 |first=Lorene |last=Yue}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-02-03/business/0702030033_1_lifestyle-format-don-keprta-dominick |title=Dominick's to close 14 area stores by April |work=Chicago Tribune |date=February 3, 2007 |accessdate=December 28, 2013 |first=Robert |last=Manor}}</ref> After these store closings, Dominick's operated in 83 locations until they were closed on December 28, 2013. ==Omni Superstore== [[Image:Omni superstore 3.JPG|right|thumb|225px|Omni Superstore, Schererville, IN, 1991: canopy for loading groceries]] {{Main|Omni Superstore}} In 1987, the chain opened '''Omni Superstore''' locations,<ref name=ct-1987feb24>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-02-24/business/8701150626_1_low-prices-cone-belding-communications-superwarehouse |title=Dominick's Won't Keep Jerry's Afloat |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=February 24, 1987 |first=George |last=Lazarus}}</ref><ref name=cst-1987apr16>{{cite news |title=Omni offers (nearly) all things to shoppers |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=April 16, 1987 |page=7 |first=Virginia |last=Van Vynckt |quote=Imagine an all-night drugstore, department store, supermarket, specialty shop and deli under one roof. That's the idea behind Omni, an 86,000-square-foot superstore opened by Dominick's Finer Foods last week in southwest suburban Orland Park.}} [http://docs.newsbank.com/s/InfoWeb/aggdocs/AWNB/0EB36D61BB32CDDE/0D10997327EA07D5 Link] via [[NewsBank]].</ref> which were "warehouse-style" supermarkets to stave off [[Cub Foods]] supermarkets. Besides traditional food items, these stores featured non-food items, movie rental stores, and bulk items. The stores' design was stark in comparison to Dominick's and featured cost-cutting techniques. These stores began to lose money due to lack of [[loss prevention]] and [[Inventory control|throwaway inventorying]]. Around 1996 then-owner Yucaipa decided to convert them to the Dominick's "Fresh Store" concept. Omni Superstores were converted to Dominick's Stores in 1997.<ref name=ct-1997oct10>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-10-10/business/9710100077_1_fresh-stores-profitable-stores-new-stores |title=Dominick's Omni Stores Go Upscale: 'Fresh' Stores Offer Consumers More To Choose From, Such As Deli Counters And Cafes, And May Give Firm Higher Margins |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=October 10, 1997 |first=Nancy |last=Millman}}</ref><ref name=cst-1997oct10>{{cite news |title=Omni off Dominick's menu - Chain plans conversion to 'fresh stores' |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=October 10, 1997 |page=59 |first1=Mary Ellen |last1=Podmolik |first2=Tom |last2=Cruze |last-author-amp=yes |quote=Dominick's Supermarkets Inc., announced plans Thursday to do away with its 17 Omni discount food stores and convert most of them to Dominick's "fresh stores" by next summer. For Dominick's, the switch is likely to further increase profit margin. The renovated "fresh stores," introduced in 1994 with trendy food products and a wider selection of produce, have been extremely popular with customers.}} [http://docs.newsbank.com/s/InfoWeb/aggdocs/AWNB/0EB4234495ED2F3A/0D10997327EA07D5 Link] via [[NewsBank]].</ref> After Dominick's was acquired by Safeway, some locations were closed. The Clybourn Avenue Dominick's in Chicago was the only remaining Omni Superstore building which was occupied by Dominick's until the store was closed on December 28, 2013. ==Brands== After being acquired by Safeway, Dominick's private-label brands varied between those branded for Safeway (such as "Safeway Select" and "O Organics") and ones branded for Dominick's. ===Lifestyle branding=== On April 18, 2005, Safeway, Dominick's parent company, began a $100 million brand [[Positioning (marketing)|re-positioning]] campaign labeled "Ingredients for Life". Although the campaign was used in the Chicago area, the "Ingredients for Life" slogan was still positioned with the store's logo as in Safeway's other divisions (i.e. at the end of commercials and on billboards Dominick's logo was flashed combined with the slogan). Under this campaign many Dominick's were remodeled to the new format. Lifestyle stores featured more upscale trends than on Dominick's last re-branding, "Fresh Stores", such as an olive bar, carving station, [[Starbucks]], and a salad bar.<ref name=ct-2006mar03>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-03-03/business/0603030283_1_grocery-food-institute-wholesale-clubs |title=Dominick's wants slice of the high-end market: New city store puts emphasis on easy, fresh prepared foods |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 3, 2006 |first=John |last=Schmeltzer}}</ref> Architectural changes included hardwood flooring and new direct lighting schemes that tend to be less abrasive. The first Dominick's to be branded a Lifestyle store was in [[Northfield, Illinois|Northfield]]<ref name="Duff" /><ref name=ct-2005dec24>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-12-24/business/0512240053_1_willard-bishop-consulting-traditional-grocers-cub-foods |title=Squeeze of the supercenter: New players bite into market share of traditional grocers |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=December 24, 2005 |first=John |last=Schmeltzer}}</ref> which opened after closing 12 poorly-performing stores.<ref name=ct-2005mar05>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-03-05/business/0503050194_1_safeway-spokesman-brian-dowling-dominick-roundy |title=Roundy's may again look to buy Dominick's |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 5, 2005 |first=Delroy |last=Alexander}}</ref> Safeway later spent an additional $150 million in upgrades to the Lifestyle brand.<ref name=ct-2008mar31>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-03-31/business/0803300246_1_don-keprta-stores-california-chain |title=Dominick's sets 'lifestyle' goals: Supermarket chain is spending more than $200 million remodeling sites, proof that it is not for sale, store says |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 31, 2008 |first=Mike |last=Hughlett}}</ref> ===Banking=== After seeing the success that their Omni division had with their in-store banking partnership with [[St. Paul Federal Bank]] since 1988,<ref name=ct-1988oct18>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-10-18/business/8802080511_1_share-chicago-area-rose |title=St. Paul Bancorp Inc., Parent of St. Paul Federal Bank for... |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=October 18, 1988 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Dominick's formed an agreement with [[First Chicago Bank|First Chicago Corp.]] in 1993.<ref name=ct-1993may13>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-05-13/business/9305130067_1_in-store-branches-first-chicago-first-supermarket-branch |title=1st Chicago Branches At Dominick's |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 13, 1993 |first=Sharon |last=Stangenes}}</ref> Until final closure in 2013, many Dominick's featured in-store bank locations and [[Automated teller machine|ATMs]] of First Chicago's successor, [[Chase (bank)|Chase]].<ref name="answers" /> ==Sales of Expired Food Controversy== On February 17, 2011 CBS Chicago News aired a report<ref name="CBS Report">{{cite web |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/02/17/mom-blogger-finds-cartloads-of-expired-date-food-at-popular-grocer/ |title=Mom Blogger Finds Cartloads of Expired Date Food At Popular Grocer |publisher=CBS Chicago |date=February 17, 2011 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> picked up on from Chicago blogger Jill Cataldo<ref name="Jill Cataldo 1">{{cite web |url=http://jillcataldo.com/node/15175 |title=Expired Food at Dominick's First In A Series |publisher=JillCataldo.com (blog) |first=Jill |last=Cataldo |date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> about a widespread issue with the sale of [[Shelf life|expired products]] in Dominick's stores. Legions of Dominick's customers had apparently been contacting Dominick's about these issues for some time to no avail. In two separate shopping trips to two different Dominick's stores, Ms. Cataldo, along with two of her readers, documented over 700 expired items on the store shelves, some more than 2 years past their expiration dates.<ref name="Jill Cataldo 2">{{cite web |url=http://jillcataldo.com/node/15267 |title=Expired Food at Dominick's Second Second In A Series |publisher=JillCataldo.com (blog) |first=Jill |last=Cataldo |date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> On that same day The Chicago Tribune featured an article<ref name="Chicago Tribune Article">{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0218-dominicks-food-20110218,0,1178507.story |title=Outdated Items At Dominick's Angers Customers |publisher=Chicago Tribune.com |first=Gregory |last=Karp |date=2011-02-18}}</ref> on the Dominick's expired-food issue. In that article, Safeway, as parent company of Dominick's, released the following statement to the media: “Dominick’s customers rightly expect they will find only high-quality, fresh products at all of our stores. Our organization is committed to meeting those expectations. While expiration dates on food products are largely based on quality, not [[food safety]], that does not diminish the fact that we are displeased with the out-of-date products found at our stores. This is not indicative of how we do business. A high-level and highest-priority team has been assembled to immediately address these issues.” Reports of shoppers witnessing Dominick's employees in the aisles of their stores filling carts with expired products began popping up in the comments sections of these articles. On February 18, 2011 various [[Chicago market]] [[Media in Chicago|media outlets]] also ran reports on this problem including NBC Chicago,<ref name="NBC Article">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Angry-Customers-Complain-Dominicks-Sold-Them-Expired-Items--116468968.html |title=Angry Customers Complain Dominick's Sold Them Expired Items |publisher=NBC Chicago |first=Jaime |last=Elich |date=<!--undated-->}}</ref> WGN Morning News<ref name="WGN Morning News">{{cite web |url=http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/9c61912a-1033-4f51-b1ab-38be41ea3654/News/Dominick-s-addresses-expired-food-concerns |title=Dominick's Addresses Expired Food Concerns |publisher=WGN TV |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}} {{dead link|date=December 2015}}</ref> and WBBM AM Radio. Scores of customers had taken to the Dominick's Facebook page demanding answers about the volume of expired products on their shelves, but Dominick's remained silent on the issue prior to Ms. Cataldo's blog posts and the subsequent media coverage. ==Store Closings== Over time, Dominick's closed stores due to lack of sales and overall poor performance. In 2011, three locations were closed in Orland Park, Oak Lawn, and Carpentersville. In 2012, stores were closed in Hoffman Estates, Vernon Hills, North Chicago and Bloomingdale. Most employees were either transferred to different stores or offered a [[severance package]]. It was announced that most Dominick's stores would be closed in the Chicago area by December 28, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=9374521 |title=Dominick's stores close doors at noon Saturday across Chicago |work=ABC7Chicago.com |date=December 28, 2013 |accessdate=December 28, 2013 |first=Diane |last=Pathieu}}</ref> The announcement has spurred its competitors into seeking out employees and store locations that they could expand into once Dominick's exits the market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-16/business/chi-jewel-dominicks-employees-20131016_1_ufcw-local-safeway-dominick |title=Jewel to keep workers from 4 Dominick's stores it's acquiring |last=Channick |first=Robert |work=Chicago Tribune |date=October 16, 2013 |accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref> On December 2, 2013, [[Milwaukee]]-based [[Roundy's]], which operates under the Mariano's Fresh Market brand in the Chicago market and is chaired by former Dominick's CEO Bob Mariano, announced the purchase of eleven stores in the chain, though employees would have to re-apply to work for Roundy's.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-marianos-roundys-buying-11-dominicks-stores-20131202,0,4782469.story |title=Mariano's owner Roundy's buying 11 Dominick's stores |last1=Channick |first1=Robert |last2=Bomkamp |first2=Samantha |last-author-amp=yes |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 2, 2013 |accessdate=December 3, 2013}}</ref> In December 2013, Dominick's employee Steve Yamamoto was suspended one day prior to his store closure date for having published a satirical, science-fiction themed video on the closure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chicagoist.com/2013/12/28/suburban_dominicks_employee_suspend.php |title=Suburban Dominick's Employee Suspended On Last Day For Satirical YouTube clip |work=Chicagoist |date=December 28, 2013 |accessdate=December 31, 2013 |first=Jon |last=Graef}}</ref> One location remained open in [[Bannockburn, Illinois]] until January 25, 2014, and another in Westchester, Illinois, until January 28.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-12-28/business/ct-biz-1228-dominicks-20131228_1_unsold-chicago-area-stores-unsold-stores-safeway-inc |title=Final closing time for Dominick's on Saturday |last=Channick |first=Robert |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 28, 2013 |accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref> [[Whole Foods Market|Whole Foods]] purchased 7 of the closed locations in 2014.<ref name=ct-2014feb03>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-03/business/chi-whole-foods-dominicks-stores-20140131_1_finer-foods-new-stores-chicago-area |title=Whole Foods confirms plan to buy 7 former Dominick's stores |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=February 3, 2014 |first=Robert |last=Channick}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{Safeway, Inc.}} {{Supermarkets of the United States}} [[Category:Safeway Inc.]] [[Category:Retail companies established in 1918]] [[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2013]] [[Category:Companies based in Chicago, Illinois]] [[Category:Defunct supermarkets of the United States]] [[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]] [[Category:Companies based in DuPage County, Illinois]]'