PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – A long-awaited and long-delayed grocery store on Peoria’s southside has another opening date, with its owner providing explanation to its hold up.
Owner Chuck Brown said the market will have a soft opening on Fri. Oct. 23, 2026 and a grand opening on Oct. 30.
Brown said construction costs have increased around $225,000, in order to meet requirements from the City of Peoria, Peoria Fire Department and city/county health department – change orders that were additional and unplanned.
He said the State of Illinois and Peoria County are aware of these holdups.
A mechanics lien has also been placed on the property by Baldovin Construction and its subcontractors, a standard practice, Brown said. According to a search of Peoria County records, the lien amounts to over $338,000.
Brown and Baldovin entered into a contract on Jan. 16. Work was last performed on July 7. The lien was filed Aug. 4.
According to the lien, Brown later requested additional work for the store, adding another $104,597.80 to the original cost, which brought the total to around $657,913.54.
Brown said the lien will be resolved before October.
First District Councilwoman Denise Jackson told 25News that she does not have information regarding the lien, but she is hopeful Southside residents will eventually have another option for buying groceries, as the area has been a food desert for years.
Brown has received numerous local and state grants – $1.7 million from the Illinois Grocery Initiative, an ARPA grant from Peoria County for $200,000, another Peoria County grant for $200,000, Capital Infrastructure Improvement grant for $245,000, along with contributing over $178,000 of his personal money – for a project investment of over $2,523,000.
He said spending requirements for both the state and county are being followed. A grant manager was assigned and CJ Harvest continues to be in standing with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
(Reporting by Gianna Njau and Jason Howell, 25 News)
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