Jewel Repeals Mandatory Cart-to-Car Service

Patch readers had a lot to say last month when asked what they thought of a new store policy in which baggers were obliged to follow customers and their carts out to their vehicles whether they wanted help or not.

If you've avoided shopping at Jewel-Osco for fear of being awkwardly trailed to your car by an employee, you're not alone, but there is good news. The once mandatory policy created by Jewel's new owners, Cerberus Capital Management LP, has been repealed. A statement on the store's website says the cart-to-car service will still be offered to customers, but it will no longer be forced upon them. Parts of our customer service philosophy are things that every grocery store should do, like ensuring the stores are clean, the shelves are well stocked, and asking if you need help finding an item. Now, we’ve expanded our service to include taking your groceries out to your car. And, if you don’t want or need help, that’s fine too. Many customers …

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No Means No: Is Jewel-Osco's Mandatory Cart-to-Car Service Too Much?

Whether you want them to or not, Jewel-Osco has implemented a new policy of following shoppers, and their carts, out to their vehicles. What do Patch readers think?

If you haven't shopped at your local Jewel-Osco grocery store in a while, be prepared for a new customer service initiative that you may, or may not, appreciate. It's called the "cart-to-car" service, according to couponsinthenews.com, and whether you want the help or not, your bagger is expected to follow you and your cart out to your vehicle. The service is mandatory, though Jewel-Osco denies it has anyting to do with keeping track of shopping carts, according to Coupons in the News. "We understand that this is a very different service and it might take our customers some time to understand that we want this to be the norm," said a Jewel customer service representative in the article. It was announced in January that Jewel-Osco stores …

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Jewel-Osco Stores to be Sold to Cerberus Capital Management

A total of 877 Supervalu, Inc. stores will be sold, including Jewel-Osco stores in northern Illinois.

The many Jewel-Osco stores across the country, including here in northern Illinois, are being sold with other Supervalu, Inc., stores to Cerberus Capital Management LP, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday. Under the $3.3 billion sale, Cerberus will take ownership of Albertsons, Acme, Shaw's and Star Market stores in addition to Jewel-Osco and Sav-on stores, according to the Sun-Times. The sale includes a total of 877 stores nationwide. Locally, there are Jewel-Osco stores in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Palatine and many other communities. According to a press release on the Supervalu website, the company will maintain ownership of 1,300 Save-A-Lot stores, along with …

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Libertyville Woman Wins $10,000 in Jewel Game

Jennifer Criel, a Libertyville mother of two, plans to take her children to Disney World in Orlando with the prize money she won in Jewel-Osco's Wish Big Win Big Holiday Giveway Collect and Win Game.

NASCAR Makes Pitstop in Libertyville

Racing fans of all ages got to check out racers displayed within the Red Top Plaza along Milwaukee Avenue.

Driving along Milwaukee Avenue on Friday, some racing fans may have been surprised to see some unique cars parked within Red Top Plaza along Milwaukee Avenue. Jewel-Osco, in partnership with NASCAR and business sponsors, displayed two race cars along the edge of its parking lot. The cars are being displayed at sites throughout the Chicago area to promote racing events at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet from Sept. 15 to 18. “We’ve had a lot of race fans but also a lot of people who like cars. They get to look at them up close and see how they are constructed,” said Allen Faucette, a show car specialist. Terry O’Donnell, store manager at Jewel, said the sponsors of race cars are bringing out the cars so racing fans can see the cars and …

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Village Staff Remains Confident in Libertyville Shoppers

Libertyville's Jewel-Osco becomes more competitive after Mariano's Fresh Market opened in Vernon Hills.

Economic Development Commission members remain concerned about possible sales tax damage the new Mariano’s fresh market may have on Libertyville’s sales tax revenue, but they say they are confident that Libertyville residents will continue shopping in their hometown. Although the Jewel-Osco store has not released any sales numbers to the village, members of the EDC said they have noticed that the Jewel is becoming more competitive and recently placed a customer-appreciation ad. Heather Rowe, economic development coordinator for the village, said that she has been in the store twice recently and that it seemed busy. “Competition does make you step up your game,” Commissioner Tom Kreuser said in reference to Jewel’s attempts to retain …

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Mayor Weppler Thanks Libertyville Customers

Libertyville mayor encourages residents to Shop Libertyville.

As a sign of appreciation for patronizing Libertyville businesses, Mayor Terry Weppler bagged groceries, shook hands, and thanked customers at Sunset Foods on Monday. “I just wanted to thank people for shopping here in Libertyville,” Weppler said. “When people shop here, 68 cents of every dollar stays in the community.” A week earlier, Weppler greeted and thanked customers at Libertyville’s Jewel-Osco store on Milwaukee Avenue. Grocery store owners and village officials have been concerned about the addition of Mariano’s Fresh Market in Vernon Hills, which opened in June on Milwaukee Avenue, as a shopping option to Libertyville residents. According to Community Development Director John Spoden, Jewel-Osco is one of the village’s top 20 tax…

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Mariano's Store Poised to Take a Chunk of Libertyville's Tax Base

Village plans a media blitz that includes education about village boundaries while searching out other sources for tax income.

The Jewel – Osco Store on South Milwaukee Avenue and village officials may be fighting an uphill battle to keep shoppers, and hence their tax base, in Libertyville after Mariano’s grocery store opens in late June. Mariano’s, which is owned by Roundy’s, is in the Vernon Hills village limits and is expected to take a bite out of Libertyville’s tax base. But how big of a bite remains to be seen and village administrators don’t have exact numbers. They are also discussing solutions to keep their tax base at its current level even if sales at the Jewel-Osco are weakened.  The Jewel-Osco store is on a state list of the village’s top 20 tax-earning entities. When tax dollars are paid to the village, a lump sum arrives. Village administrators don’…

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This Week in Libertyville

Each week, Libertyville Patch will summarize the week's top stories, including links to those articles, for your convenience.

Vernon Hills Store Threatens Libertyville's Tax Base Marian's Fresh Market is scheduled to open in Vernon Hills in late June and its proximity to Jewel-Osco, at 1300 S. Milwaukee Ave., could hurt the village's tax base. Libertyville Upgrades Commuter Parking Pay Stations Commuters at Libertyville’s two Metra stations will soon enjoy new upgraded parking pay stations that will be more user friendly for patrons and offer the ability to handle both cash and time-saving credit/debt card transactions. Parking Lot Disruption Coming Soon to Libertyville Plans to bury utilities in the parking lot behind the Village Hall and the rear of businesses on N. Milwaukee Avenue could start as soon as the sun shines, according to village officials. Animal …

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On the Home Front

Thanksgiving Holiday a Work Day for Many in Community

Families learn to juggle work schedules and holiday plans.

This Thursday, as families throughout Libertyville gather with relatives and friends, Mike Johnson will cruise the local streets, ensuring the holiday remains peaceful. Johnson, a Libertyville resident and 10-year veteran of the Libertyville Police Department, says that this year will be the first time in a decade he is working during the day on the holiday.  "I will miss spending time with my family, but it's part of the job," Johnson said. Johnson used to work the midnight shift, which he says didn't affect the celebration of holidays as much. His new day schedule, however, has required some tweaking of agendas. "There are ways to make the holiday manageable, even if you're working," Johnson said. Johnson explains that officers who live …

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