Osco closing; neighbors hope for Trader Joe's

The Osco Drug store at Asbury Avenue and Oakton Street is slated to close in mid-July in the wake of the breakup this year of Jewel-Osco owner Albertsons which saw all the free-standing Osco stores purchased by CVS.

CVS already has a store at Asbury and Howard Street, a half mile south of the Osco site.

Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, is organizing a campaign by neighborhood residents to try to persuade the Trader Joe's grocery chain to take over the soon-to-be vacant property.

City officials have been unsuccessful in past efforts to entice the specialty food retailer to set up shop at a downtown Evanston location.