Grasch Foods in Brookfield to be sold; Sendik's to take over property



BROOKFIELD -- The Grasch family announced Monday, February 8th that they are retiring from the grocery business.

The Grasch family will sell its property and grocery business at 13950 W. North Avenue in Brookfield to the Balistreri family. The property, which has been home to Grasch Foods since 1957, will transition to become a Sendik’s Food Market in the coming months.

Current Grasch Foods employees will have the opportunity to join the Sendik’s family.

The two family businesses share a similar lineage. Both have served Milwaukee for more than 80 years, with Grasch Foods tracing its history to the early 1930s and Sendik’s celebrating its 90th year in 2016. Both are owned and operated by third-generation sibling grocers. And both are well-known throughout the community as having a commitment to the finest quality products and superior service.

In a news release, Bill Grasch, who owns and operates Grasch Foods along with siblings Bob Grasch and Mary Jo Stark, stated the following:

“We are very proud of the legacy of Grasch Foods. 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.”


Family co-owner Ted Balistreri of Sendik’s said the following in a statement:

“The values that the Grasch family has operated by are very much aligned with how we treat our guests and our associates. They have established a high standard, and we look forward to building on their great history.”


Anton and Mary Grasch opened the first Grasch Food Market in the early 1930s at N. 45th Street and W. Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee. In 1957, their son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Josie, purchased and began operating the current location on the northeast corner of Lilly Road and W. North Avenue in Brookfield. Their children, Bob Grasch, Bill Grasch and Mary Jo Stark began working as partners in the business in 1980. The original 6,500-square-foot store, which was spacious for the time, has been expanded and remodeled several times since 1957 and now contains 28,000-square feet of store space.

The store will become the 13th location for brothers Ted, Patrick and Nick Balistreri and their sister, Margaret Harris. They also operate 11 full-line Sendik’s Food Markets and a small-format Sendik’s Fresh2GO store. Additional Sendik’s Food Markets are planned for West Milwaukee and The Corners in Brookfield. Sendik’s Fresh2GO stores are currently planned for Greendale and Hales Corners.