North Shore Bank branch moves out of south side supermarket, constructs building across street

North Shore Bank will move from its current site inside a south side supermarket to a building across the street following an expansion project, the bank announced on Monday. 

The bank will close its old location inside El Rey Food Mart at 1320 W. Burnham Street and open a new branch at 1316 W. Forest Home Avenue. The supermarket is seeking to use the old space to expand its operation. The new bank branch is expected to open in spring 2023. 

The new branch will have three private offices, a larger lobby space, staff fluent in both Spanish and English and a self-service coin counter and teller services, bank officials said in a statement. Neighborhood customers can also visit nearby Jackson Park, found at 4230 W. Oklahoma Ave. 

“Nearly 20 years ago, we opened this location as the first bank branch inside a multicultural supermarket in the region,” Alfredo Martin, North Shore Bank vice president and community engagement manager, said in a statement. “It’s bittersweet to be leaving the space inside the store, but we’re glad that El Rey Food Mart now will have the space needed to grow and so will we, just directly across the street at our new location.” 

The bank would be able to provide more people with banking services in the new space, Martin added. 

Ernesto Villarreal, owner of El Rey, said the bank has paved the way to home ownership and wise savings and investments for neighbors. “We are so happy they found space right across the street to also grow and even expand those offerings to our community,” he said.