Sendik’s will soon be the new owner of Grasch Foods at 13950 W. North Avenue in Brookfield.

An announcement released this morning indicates that – after three generations of business – the Grasch family will be retiring from the grocery business, selling its property and and business to the Balistreri family. The store will become the 13th location for brothers Ted, Patrick and Nick Balistreri and their sister, Margaret Harris, who also operate 11 full-line Sendik’s Food Markets and a small-format Sendik’s Fresh2GO store in Bayside.

The release notes that the property, which has been home to Grasch Foods since 1957, will transition to its new identity as a Sendik’s Food Market in the coming months. Current Grasch Foods employees will be given the opportunity to join the Sendik’s family.

"We are very proud of the legacy of Grasch Foods," said Bill Grasch, who owns and operates Grasch Foods along with siblings Bob Grasch and Mary Jo Stark. "Through the years, our customers have become like family, and it was important to us that they continue to receive the service they deserve. The Balistreri family has an excellent reputation, and we know our customers will be in good hands."

The first Grasch Foods store was established by Anton and Mary Grasch at North 45th Street and West Lisbon Avenue in the 1930s. The Graschs sold the business to their son and daughter in law, Tony and Josie, who moved the business to its current location  in 1957.  Current owners Bob Grasch, Bill Grasch and Mary Jo Stark took over as partners in 1980.

The original 6,500-square foot store, which was spacious for the time, has been expanded and remodeled several times and now boasts 28,000 square feet of space.