For more than three decades, Casey’s Foods has been more than a grocery store — it’s been a fixture in the Naperville community.
“We wouldn’t be here without our customers, but not only our customers, our longtime employees,” said Kris Visher, owner of Casey’s Foods in Naperville.
From Friday, Aug. 21, to Sunday, Aug. 23, the store will mark its 35th anniversary in Naperville with its “Thanks a GRILL-ion” celebration, with activities focused on supporting families and giving back to the community.
A history of Casey’s Foods
Casey’s origins date back to 1969 with Mike Casey’s Villa Park store, Mike’s Meat Market.
In 1980, the store expanded to Western Springs with Casey’s Meat Market, and in 1991, Mike’s sons Dan and David Casey opened Naperville’s Casey’s Foods.
David would take over the Villa Park and Western Springs stores in 2004, while Dan stayed with the Naperville location.
“Dan had a vision for how to bring the quality meat products and the experiences that they had here to Naperville, so it totally changed the climate of the grocery store here in this plaza,” Visher said.
The store would expand as next-door tenants moved out, including a remodel of its deli counter in 2015.
“The trends for how people were eating were changing, so we had to keep adjusting what we were offering too. So it opened up the store for people to really start getting our kitchen items because we have a lot of convenience salads and entrees that we make here fresh in the house,” Visher said.
A franchise that feels like family
“We’ve grown with the community. We’ve seen generations, which is very exciting, through here,” Visher continued. “And we have a lot of long-term employees here, so they’ve ridden the wave with us through all these growth spurts, truly.
A longtime employee herself, Visher took over the business from Dan in 2019. She’d previously been the business manager and accountant.
“We are a family here, and I know a lot of people say that. I am not a Casey, but we all feel like it’s the same family from when Dan had it,” Visher said.
Celebrating Casey’s legacy all weekend long
And that family extends to its customers, which will be celebrated this weekend. Friday will see a throwback to 1991, with $5 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and in-app deals.
Saturday will bring carnival games, grilling, music, and prizes — along with a $35 family meal deal in-store.
Sunday, there’ll be more grilling, along with some special guests.
“We brought some of the students from the InkLude program of Little Friends, and they’re going to be displaying their art, and our customers will be able to meet and greet some of them and see what they’re doing in the community,” said Visher
Along with donations to Little Friends, the store will hold a 350-pound food drive challenge for West Suburban Community Pantry.
Giving back to the community that Casey’s treasures, hoping to remain at its heart for decades to come.
“We are Naperville,” Visher said. “We are a place where you can be known and cared about, and we have the history too.”
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