A QuikTrip gas station and convenience store will replace the original Walt’s Food Center in South Holland, which closed in 2024 after a 87-year run.
Many residents had hoped to see the property remain a grocery store, said Travis Bandstra, South Holland’s director of community development.
“There was definitely feedback from residents who would have loved to have seen it be backfilled with a grocery store, and that was definitely something that we shared. We made overtures to grocers,” Bandstra said. “And I know Walt’s did a lot of that themselves.”
However, Bandstra said, the almost 90-year-old building was not in a state where another grocery store could easily move in.
“Ultimately it just seems that the building had just become too old, and too outdated, and just needed too much investment,” Bandstra said. “So the stores just took a pass on it.”
Demolition is well underway on the lot at State and 162nd streets, where QuikTrip plans to build a fuel station, convenience store and tunnel car wash, according to the village.
“I think their goal would be to be open probably late next year with the convenience store, and then begin construction of the car wash at that time,” Bandstra said.
As part of the change, Bandstra said, South Holland plans to construct a roadway to connect the neighborhood behind the large property to the thoroughfare of State Street.
While some areas of the south suburbs, such as Harvey and Chicago Heights, are considered food deserts
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where residents have limited access to groceries, South Holland has other options for residents, Bandstra said.“We have two grocery stores in town just down the road,” Bandstra said, referring to Jewel-Osco and Aldi, both also on 162nd Street. “And you’ve got Pete’s and you’ve got Walmart just over the borders from South Holland. So there’s definitely options.”
At the same time, he said, he understands why residents would have preferred that the space remain a grocery store.
“We recognize, and I think what a lot of residents see, is they want it to be as convenient as possible,” Bandstra said. “We would all love it to be next door to us, if possible.”
Other former Walt’s locations remained grocery stores. After multiple closures including the South Holland location, Walt’s announced in September 2025 it would sell its remaining four locations in Homewood, Crete, Beecher and Dyer, Indiana, to Mokena-based Berkot’s Super Foods, another grocery chain.