CHICAGO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Grocery chain Whole Foods is buying seven former Dominick stores in the Chicago area, sources told the Chicago Tribune.
Whole Foods, based in Austin, Texas, currently operates about 360 stores nationwide. The company would not confirm the purchase, the Tribune said.
Whole Foods plans to open outlets at three other Chicago area locations.
The fate of former Dominick's stores has been a closely watched drama, as the chain's demise last year meant the end of 6,000 jobs and the closure of 72 stores.
Roundy's Supermarkets, based in Milwaukee, purchased 11 of the former Dominick's stores, which are expected to reopen in February. The retailer Jewel bought four former Dominick's outlets, which have already re-opened.
In the past week, two local chains announced plans to re-open other former Dominick's outlets. Joe Caputo & Sons, a three-store chain, said it would buy four locations and Tony's Finer Foods, a 10-store chain, said it would buy one former Dominick's.
