(Above) The new main entrance to Jewel-Osco at the corner of North State Street and West Ohio Street in River North. (Click on image to view larger version.)

October 23, 2013 – Four months and $215,000 later, Jewel-Osco has officially re-opened its busy store on North State Street.

Starting in May and ending in September, the renovation project updated virtually every department and added a new deli, bakery, salad bar, juice bar, produce displays, liquor displays, fish and meat area, and new canopies over windows on State and Ohio Streets. At the corner, a new main entrance was created.

Jewel-Osco president William Emmons, who attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday morning, called the changes “a reinvigorated look to our customers while offering a fresh, new feel to their shopping experience.”

According to Store Director Luigi De Matteo, the project has created 50 new jobs.

(Above) Supervised by officials of Jewel-Osco, including company president William Emmons at far left, Store Director Luigi De Matteo at right cuts a ribbon to officially re-open the grocery store at State & Ohio Streets.

Four local charities were presented with donations from the Itasca-based company on Wednesday. Catholic Charities and Metropolitan Family Services each received $5,000. Franklin Fine Arts Center, which provides academic and artistic programs to students, and Ruben Salazar Bilingual Center, providing bilingual education from pre-kindergarten to eight grade, were each given $500.

The River North store, built in 2002, is the first of at least 25 Chicago-area Jewel-Oscos that are currently being renovated.

(Above) Sushi being prepared by Jewel vendors near the front of the store.

 Related story: Jewel-Osco renovations ready on State Street by year-end