By: Encounter Staff
LOCAL
Tony's Fresh Market Begins Renovations
In May of 2021, Laborers of Local 75 protested in a labor dispute with Tony’s Fresh Market. The grocer chose nonunion contractors to begin interior demolition. The protests halted and
prolonged the beginning construction of the property. According to www.patch. com, “Tony plans to hire at least 100 fulltime workers and another 150 part-time workers for its new grocery store at 1801 W. Jefferson St.” A chain link fence has recently been added to surround the property as construction finally begins.
The plans were not final and had yet to be submitted and approved by the Joliet Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission. The Kmart has been closed since late 2016. It was built in 1965 as Kmart’s 98 location.
Last year, Next Door Self-Storage submitted plans for renovation of the Kmart.
Get Ready to Run in Forest Preserve’s Virtual “Harvest Hustle” 5K The Forest Preserve District of Will County is hosting a virtual 5k run during the month of October. The 5k is designed to get people active even while we are still in the midst of COVID-19, and to encourage people to visit Will County’s beautiful forest preserves.
The “Harvest Hustle” 5k, which is 3.1 miles total, is completely virtual and intended to be done individually. To participate, all you have to do is pick one of the trails and record your run or walk on your smartphone’s activity app, take a screenshot and send it in via an online form.
Jen Guest, the Forest Preserve’s recreation coordinator, told the Joliet Patch that a virtual race is the best option in the middle of the pandemic. "Due to COVID-19, we have scheduled this as a passive 5K to avoid having a larger group program. Also, offering it virtually allows more people to participate when it is convenient for them." All participants can complete their run anytime during the month of October on any of the given trail selections; DuPage River Trail, Hickory Creek Bikeway, I&M Canal Trail, Lake Renwick Bikeway, Messenger Woods Nature Preserve Trail, Old Plank Road Trail, Plum Creek Greenway Trail, Prairie Bluff Trail, Rock Run Greenway Trail, Spring Creek Greenway Trail and the Wauponsee Glacial Trail.
Photo courtesy of active.com
8
October 28, 2021
The first 100 participants to finish the 5k and upload their screenshot will receive a free, long-sleeve “Harvest Hustle” t-shirt.
Photo courtesy of tonysfreshmarket.com
The vacant Kmart on Jefferson Street is officially being renovated into a Tony’s Fresh Market. Last December, Joliet approved a tax incentive package for the construction. According to the Joliet Patch, Joliet city officials were hoping to see Tony’s open in 2021.
