Sendik’s officially opens for business

Marquette’s long-awaited campus grocery is here

A shoulder-to-shoulder crowd of more than 150 members of the Marquette community packed a parking lot at the site of the new Sendik’s Fresh2GO Marquette location for the store’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Marquette President Michael R. Lovell announced the long sought-after store in June, saying, “From my earliest days as president at Marquette, I told our students and our partners in the Near West Side that bringing a top-quality grocer to our community was the highest priority. With more than 90 years of outstanding experience serving Milwaukee, Sendik’s arrival in our neighborhood means that our current food desert will soon have a fresh food oasis.”

Speaking at the event, which marked the official opening of the small-format store (Sendik’s 19th store and the sixth one it has opened this year), were Lovell; Sendik’s family co-owner Ted Balistreri, who was joined on stage by his siblings Patrick Balistreri, Nick Balistreri, and Margaret Harris; Marquette Executive Vice President Dave Lawlor; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; and Alderman Bob Bauman. Rev. Nicky Santos, S.J., blessed the new space.

Sendik’s Fresh2GO Marquette is located at 824 N. 16th St., just west of Wells St. on the northwest side of campus.

Store hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.