If you’re like me, you were very sad when Cub Foods in Joliet’s Caton Crossing closed it’s doors back in November.
For some sick reason, one of my favorite past times is grocery shopping! Strange I know, but I love it so much that I’d actually shop for other people if I had the extra time. I am pretty sure I owe this life-long obsession to my my Aunt Lou.
When we were kids, we used to go up to our summer home in Michigan which we shared with her family. There wasn’t much to do in White Cloud, Michigan 25 years ago, so I’d always beg to go with her to Bird’s Grocery Store or Plumb’s Valu -Rite to help with the shopping for all 15+ of us for the weekend. Not only does Aunt Lou love to grocery shop, she loves the deli more than anything!
Yes, Aunt Lou has been known in the past to slap together a sandwich at a red light, because she is just too excited to wait until she gets home!
Oh, boy… I am really getting off track! Back to my story.
When we first moved to Plainfield almost 8 years ago, the Cub Foods store was actually an Eagle Market. I loved to shop at Eagle because, as a money savvy newly-wed, I always took full advantage of their double value coupon policy. I loved watching the lady deduct all of my coupons at the end of my order. I spent the walk back to my car with a sense of accomplishment. It became almost a game each week to see how much I could save.
When Eagle closed and Cub moved in, I wasn’t sure how I would feel, though as time went on I started to feel more at home. I knew the ladies at the check out, my way around the cereal aisle, and what days they stocked fresh produce. ( I told you, I am sick!)
The day they closed the store, I felt like I had lost an old friend!
5 months later… I am anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the new Strack and Van Til Neighborhood Market on April 12th!
I stopped by and talked to the construction crew a few days ago to get the scoop on an opening day. From what I hear, this Indiana based food company is huge on customer service and has really great prices. If that is true, then they may have found themselves their most loyal customer in me!
Well done! IMHO... the most important line in this piece... "I stopped by and talked to the construction crew..."
I've never ever heard of any of those store names you mentioned! However in Texas we have one has ever heard of also. It's the biggest chain in Texas and exists only in Texas. The major stores, still aren';t as large in the state nor can the compete with them. The name is HEB....most out of staters ask what is a HE-B but it is pronounced H-E-B. Your not going to believe what it stands for! Howard E Butt!
I love Strack and Van Til. We have one here in Schererville, In. Happy Shopping.
I used to work in Cedar Lake and they are a fine store. I can remember the odor as you first came into the store. A mix of deli and fresh produce. Is it just me or does anyone else associate with that smell.
I must have gone there hungry.