Walt’s Food Centers appear to be on track to be sold to another family-owned regional grocery chain, Berkot’s Super Foods, according to a letter to employees dated Sept. 24 that was posted on local social media groups. 

The letter advised employees that the sale could close in late October or early November. 

Walt’s has been owned and operated by the Lagestee family for 88 years. Walt’s has been in Homewood at 2345 183rd St. in Homewood the past 45 years. 

The family business started as a farm stand in South Holland selling produce raised by local farmers. Farm land became subdivisions in the 1950s and 1960s creating suburbia. 

Walt’s first store was in South Holland, and then took over an empty A&P store in Homewood. It expanded several times. Walt’s serves customers at stores in Homewood, Crete, Beecher and  Dyer, Indiana. Expansion stores in Tinley Park and Frankfort have since closed. The original South Holland location closed in 2024.

“We are confident that Berkot’s Super Foods, as another family-owned independent grocery chain, will continue to operate these stores with the same family values we have held for all these decades,” the family’s letter to employees said. “We are very thankful for your hard work and dedication over the many years.”

In a news release announcing the pending deal, Walt’s President John Lagestee Sr. expressed appreciation for the staff and for communities the business served.

“We would like to thank the communities we did business in and the customers who have shopped at our locations over the many decades, as well as the dedicated team of employees who have worked diligently to provide service to our customers,” he said. 

The letter said Berkot’s would be working with Walt’s staff soon regarding employment transition.

Berkot’s is half as old as Walt’s but has more stores. According to the company website, John Kotara started his first store in Mokena in 1990 after working as a manager for A&P. The company operates 16 stores, not counting the four Walt’s locations.