The Grand Food Centers of Winnetka and Glencoe will celebrate 25 years in business on Saturday with an outdoor customer appreciation party featuring a live concert by Chicago favorite Dick Holliday and the Bamboo Gang.

Other activities include an open air organic fruit and vegetable market, strolling musicians, sample tastings of the grocer’s “Signature” items and plenty of gourmet vendors providing free tastings of product featured inside The Grand.

 The secret to the chain’s success is not by purchasing in volume, but instead, old-fashioned customer service. Unlike the big-box stores that demonstrate customer service with greeters and receipt-checkers, the Grand Food Center is successful because of its helpful and friendly staff.

 WHEN: Saturday, May 19

Noon to 4 p.m.

(Dick Holliday Concert 2-4 p.m.)

WHERE:    The Grand Food Center

                  606 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka

 The other secret to the grocer’s success is a familiarity among the owners.

Chris Barber, Dan Klebba and Kevin Salus are almost as close as brothers. They first met at bagboys at the Glencoe store while working as New Trier High School students in the 1980s. Klebba purchased the stores in 1987 and invited Salus and Barber to join him. Although a major renovation added nearly 40% more floor space in 2010, the Winnetka location shares a footnote in cinematic history: a scene from the movie “Home Alone” was shot there.