The Dominick's at 6009 North Broadway could be sold to Whole Foods, Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) said. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

EDGEWATER — Ald. Harry Osterman said he was "confident" that Whole Foods would take over the soon-to-close Dominick's on North Broadway.

The neighborhood's other Dominick's, at Foster Avenue and North Sheridan Road, has been bought by Mariano's.

The alderman's prediction comes as Dominick's parent company, Safeway, Inc., plans to close all of its Chicago area stores on Dec. 28.

Shoppers have flocked to the supermarkets over the past couple of weeks as merchandise has been on sale for as much as 50 percent off, and most shelves in the stores are now barren.

Mariano's said it would close the Dominick's stores it had bought for at least 45 days before reopening.

Osterman encouraged residents in an email Wednesday to shop at the neighborhood's independently owned grocery stores.

"In light of our Dominick's stores closing and transitioning to new operators, now is a great time to visit, discover and support some of our other 48th Ward grocery stores, many of which are local and independent," he said.

Osterman mentioned such grocery stores as Edgewater Produce (5509 N. Clark St.), True Nature Foods (6034 North Broadway), Devon Market (1440 W. Devon Ave.), Kukulu Market (6129 North Broadway), Viet Hoa Plaza (1051 N. Argyle Ave.), Tai Nam (4925 North Broadway), La Unica Food Mart (1515 W. Devon Ave.), Golden Pacific (5353 North Broadway), Uni-Mart One Stop Shopping (5845 N. Clark St.), Old World Market (5129 North Broadway), and Urban Orchard (5212 N. Clark St.).

Osterman also thanked Dominick's employees for "their dedicated service to our community for many years."