Ultra Foods store in Wheaton to close in June

WHEATON – The Ultra Foods store at 501 S. County Farm Road in Wheaton is one of several Ultra Foods stores in the area that are set to close by June 18.

Ultra Foods is part of the Strack & Van Til supermarket chain owned by Central Grocers, a grocery cooperative headquartered in Joliet. The Ultra Foods stores in Downers Grove and Lombard are set to close by the end of April.

The Wheaton store originally was built as a Cub Foods, which opened in 1999, Wheaton Director of Planning and Economic Development James Kozik said. He said the city has not received any development plans for the building.

"We have not heard of any plans as of yet, but the property is owned by the parent company of Ultra Foods, so I would think they will be listing it for sale," Kozik said in an email.

Kozik said he doesn't think the store will remain empty for long, noting Kohl's and Target are located in the same shopping center as Ultra Foods.

"Kohl's and Target are desirable co-tenants, so there will be interest in the property," he said in the email.

Strack & Van Til is based in Highland, Ind. The company operates stores under the names Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, and Town and Country Market.

Central Grocers is a grocery cooperative owned by independent supermarket retailers supplied by the company. It supplies the Centrella-brand groceries found in independent supermarkets, as well as fresh produce and other products.

According to the company website, Central Grocers supplies about 400 independent supermarkets, and it is the seventh largest grocery cooperative in the United States.

Shaw Media reporter Bob Okon contributed to this report.