Orland Park shoppers no longer have to wait because Pete’s Fresh Market has finally arrived, bringing its signature fresh ingredients and diverse selection to the community. The long-anticipated grocery store officially opened its doors on Wednesday, Feb. 5, welcoming a flood of excited customers eager to explore the new space.
The Orland Park location is the latest addition to Pete’s Fresh Market, a family-owned supermarket chain that has been growing steadily since its humble beginnings in the 1970s as a small produce stand on Chicago’s South Side.
Founder Jimmy Dremonas, alongside his daughters and executive officers Vanessa and Stephanie Dremonas, has overseen the company’s expansion to 19 locations, with more on the way.
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau was very happy with the Orland Park location.
“I was here Sunday night for a sneak peek – Jimmy gave me a tour,” Pekau said. “A lot of people view Pete’s Fresh Market as a chain store, but it is not – it is a family business, and it’s so incredible to see Jimmy’s passion and how he treats every store and every customer like a family member.”
Jimmy’s daughter and executive officer of Pete’s Fresh Market, Stephanie Dremanos, said both the family and the store could not have received more support from the Orland Park community.
“It means a lot to be able to do this,” Stephanie, of Burr Ridge, said. “To have a family-owned business with staff that has been with us for decades.”
Stephanie, who has been with the company for 13 years said the opening day of the Orland Park location left her humble and grateful.
“This is it – it’s opening day, and this opening hour is what we all have been working towards,” she said. “So much sweat and tears went into this store, and we are so extremely proud that this level of work ethic and commitment lead to this amazing result.”
Opening day was indeed a lively event, with shoppers lining up early to take advantage of the store’s grand opening festivities. Lucky winners walked away with exciting prizes, including televisions, gift cards, and even a year’s worth of free groceries.
But the real star of the show was the store itself — a sprawling 65,000-square-foot space filled with vibrant produce, top-tier meats and seafood, an impressive selection of grocery essentials and specialty products, and a hot foods section serving up fresh, ready-to-eat meals.
The new store at 15080 S. LaGrange Road takes over a space that was once home to Art Van Furniture and, before that, a Dominick’s grocery store that closed in 2011. Pete’s Fresh Market first announced its plans for Orland Park in 2020, and after years of anticipation, the store is now open and thriving.
“We are very proud of the progress and everything that we have accomplished so far,” Stephanie said.
But the growth doesn’t stop here. Pete’s Fresh Market is already gearing up for its next big debut in Palos Heights, where another location is in the works in a former Dominick’s store at 127th and Ridgeland.
“It’s so meaningful to have a family business like this come to our town,” Ramzi Hassan, president of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce, said.
As the grocery chain continues to expand, more communities, such as Orland Park and Palos Heights, will soon get a taste of what has made Pete’s Fresh Market a beloved name in fresh and specialty foods.
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