Mariano’s Under Kroger Strives to Stay Special While Adapting to Shifting Tastes

The landscape has changed since Mariano’s parent company, Milwaukee-based Roundy’s, was acquired by Kroger in late 2015, as intense price competition and rise of delivery squeeze the already-slim-margin grocery business.

Is Kroger Ruining Mariano’s?

Since founder Bob Mariano retired two years ago, the upscale Chicago-area grocery chain has come to resemble the midmarket stores of its Cincinnati-based owner, which acquired Mariano’s parent company for $800 million in 2015.

South Side Chef John Meyer Opening Rouxster’s Cookhouse in Mariano’s Stores

Nashville-style hot chicken, jerk chicken and fried-catfish sandwiches are coming to Mariano’s grocery stores. Rouxster’s Cookhouse, Mariano’s latest in-store restaurant concept, opens Thursday at the chain’s Park Ridge location (1900 S. Cumberland Ave.).

Pork & Mindy’s to Open BBQ Joints Inside 28 Mariano’s This Year

Barbecue joint Pork & Mindy’s plans to open mini restaurants inside 28 Chicago-area Mariano’s this year, a huge expansion for the local sandwich shop and a new kind of partnership for the grocery chain.