About Us

Our History

The history of Sunset Foods is a testament to the unwavering dedication of the Cortesi family. Their commitment to customer service, exceptional quality, and competitive prices has made ‘Sunset’ synonymous with ‘superior grocery shopping’ on the North Shore – and beyond.

1937

Sunset Foods opened for business in a 25-foot by 30-foot storefront rented by John J. Cortesi and his uncle, Adeodata Fontana.
Sunset Park, adjacent to the original location at 635 Central Avenue in downtown Highland Park, inspired its name.
Customers phoned in orders for home delivery as self-service shopping did not exist.
John was soon joined in the business by his brother Otto. Together, they bought out the Fontana share and continued to gain attention in the area due to their outstanding customer service and unique product offerings.

1948

Highland Park had grown to 16,000 residents.
Willie and Hugo, became partners in the business.
The store relocated to a slightly larger facility ½ block east on Central Avenue, and Sunset took a dramatic step forward by offering self-service shopping to its customers. The innovation, rejected by many grocers, helped Sunset continue to prosper.

1954

It was only a short time before an even larger store was needed.
Sunset moved “up the hill” to its current location on Green Bay Road, with a significant expansion.
It is here that the Cortesi’s vowed that once Sunset customers selected their groceries and placed them in their carts, they would not have to handle them again – until they arrived home.

1960

A second location was added in downtown Northbrook in 1960. Customer service remained Sunset’s highest priority, keeping with the family’s philosophy, and the stores soon became informal gathering places where residents met for coffee and conversation.

1965

A third store soon following in West Lake Forest in 1965.

1983

A major remodeling was completed at the Highland Park store in 1983.

1992

1990

A completely new Lake Forest Sunset was built in 1990.

1992

The Cortesi brothers to begin transferring the responsibility of the business to the family’s next generation, involving Bill Cortesi, Richard Cortesi, and Ron Cizzon in managing the company.

1995

Northbrook location expands to provide a more extensive selection of “natural foods” in response to increasing health consciousness.
Extensive remodeling of the Highland Park store was completed in 1996, and the Sunset Foods opens its fourth store in the thriving community of Libertyville in 1998.

2006

Sunset Foods transitioned the company’s leadership to third-generation family member John E. Cortesi, naming him President and CEO.
Under John’s leadership, Sunset soon unveiled its fifth and most ambitious store in the picturesque Village of Long Grove.
This newest store showcased the best of what Sunset has to offer. This location features cutting-edge green initiatives, including a reflective solar roof membrane, recycled building products, high-efficiency heating, cooling, lighting, flooring, and siding.

2021

After 15 years with five locations, Sunset Foods was again presented with an opportunity for expansion, this time through acquisition.
On December 13th, 2021, Sunset Foods purchased The Grand Food Centers. With its focus on service, quality, and community, it was a natural addition to the Sunset Foods family.
The Grand Foods story began in its Glencoe location in 1953, with Winnetka opening ten years later in 1963.
While both Grand Foods locations began under different names, in the late 1980s, both stores became known as The Grand Food Center. The previous co-owners, Dan Klebba and Kevin Salus, had 40 years in the grocery business before retiring.

As Sunset Foods enters its 87th year as a neighborhood grocery store, we look forward to continuing the legacy of quality, service, and innovation that John, Willie, Otto, and Hugo pioneered.