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– details –

Sometime during the winter of 2014, Chicagoland was informed that the popular midwest grocery chain, Dominick’s, would be pulling out of the region due to an insurgence of competition and waning profits.

Slowly but surely, the prices dropped and consumers began to clear the shelves, taking full advantage of clearance level bargains. Walking through the store about a month before the official close date it was abundantly clear that the interior of the store on the last day would be a helluva sight and I knew instantly that I had to be there with a camera.

How often in life do you get to see a fully cleaned out grocery store? Just this once, I figured. After confirming the final scheduled date and closing hour of the store, I set an alarm and waited ’til the final day when I showed up at noon, stuck my foot in the door and asked to speak with the manager.

I was introduced to two guys with company ties and short sleeve collared shirts. They stood with folded arms waiting to end this chapter of their career while all the bag boys, checkout girls and specialty counter personnel staged a makeshift dance party at the registers.

I introduced myself as a local ‘photographer’ and a loyal Dominick’s customer. I muttered out some pathetic lie, “So sorry to see you leave town. Would you mind if I got a few snaps? Kind of a great photo subject wouldn’t you agree?” Hesitantly, they nodded me off to the aisles, “Make it quick.”

Biting my lip to hide my shit-eating grin, I grabbed a shopping cart clipped my GoPro to the push bar and took to the aisles. The rest is all here in the cut. It was the combination of a dynamite location, a good idea and a lucky break.

Later on, Gregor Mortis and I decided to make it all a little darker with the concept of the mad store announcer and the intercom demons. In the end, I think it came out real nice.

– candids –