Grand Food Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Outdoor Market, $2,500 Free Grocery Raffle

For 25 years, The Grand Food Center has been providing quality groceries to North Shore families from its Glencoe and Winnetka-based stores.

As its way of thanking area residents for their patronage, the grocer will host a 25th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Celebration event with an outdoor market from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at its Winnetka store at 606 Green Bay Rd.

An outdoor organic fruit and produce market will also feature tastings of the store’s “Grand Signature” items, including its dips, homemade salads, and bakery goods. Known as one of the North Shore’s top florists, The Grand will offer sale prices on many of its floral items on display outside.

A live band will play hits from the 1980s, accompanied by a complimentary BBQ, and visits from food-themed, costumed characters Chester Cheetah and Oreo Man.

Other surprises are in store, including raffle prizes to be awarded throughout the day.

The afternoon festivities will culminate at 3:45 p.m. when one lucky customer will be selected to win $2,500 in free groceries. A mailing to area residents this week contained an in-store coupon and contest entry blank in their mailboxes.

For The Grand Food Center, the opportunity to celebrate 25 years in business only comes around once.

“Our Winnetka and Glencoe neighbors are the reason we’ve been able to survive,” explains Grand co-owner and Glencoe native Chris Barber. “While we can’t compete with the big-box stores on price, our patrons recognize that exceptional customer service is often worth more than saving a dollar or two,” he adds. “This 25th anniversary celebration is our way of thanking them for their loyalty.”

To help The Grand Food Center in its celebration, the Winnetka Fire Department will dispatch a fire truck and firefighters for ongoing demonstrations in the store’s parking lot. The Winnetka Police Department will do the same, and will dispatch a cruiser and public information officer.

For more information, call The Grand Food Center at 847-446-6707, or visit www.grandfoodcenter.com.