Jeffrey A. Raday, P.E., president of McShane Construction Company, a Builders Alliance member, recently announced that the firm has been selected to complete the comprehensive construction of The Sugar Beet Food Co-op. The new consumer-owned cooperative grocery store will comprise the ground floor tenant space of the Grove Apartments located at 812 West Madison Street in Oak Park, Illinois. 

Hammersley Architecture selected McShane Construction for the project after the firm successfully completed the initial redevelopment assignment that transformed the former two-story office building into a contemporary four-story, mixed-use development. Today, the LEED-certified Grove Apartments incorporates 51 residential units, sizable first-floor retail space and a newly restored original Albert Kahn exterior design. 

The Sugar Beet Food Co-op will provide a full complement of grocery items with an emphasis on organic and locally produced selections including deli, produce, baked goods, bulk and refrigerated and frozen food options together with personal health and cleaning supplies, among others. The store will also offer a beverage bar serving fresh coffee, smoothies and pastries enjoyed within an adjacent seating area. 

As part of the assignment, McShane Construction will complete a comprehensive back-stock component featuring food preparation spaces, freezer/cooler storage, staff offices and a break room.  

Aligning with the grocer’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly products, the LEED-certified building offers numerous sustainable features previously incorporated by McShane Construction such as a geothermal HVAC system, Energy Star appliances and low-E windows.

"We are pleased to have been selected to complete the tenant improvement requirements for The Sugar Beet Food Co-op," remarked Raday. "This fully featured and innovative grocery store will serve to position Grove Apartments as a successful mixed-use redevelopment within Oak Park as well as provide convenient access to a wide variety of fresh grocery items to the surrounding community."

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