CHICAGO-With retail improving on the backs of grocery-anchored projects, there’s been more grocery stores proposed in Chicago than two years ago, according to a recent Mid-America Real Estate Corp. study. However, the growth can be traced to gourmet and discount products, rather than traditional full-service stores.

There’s 26 grocery stores now proposed in Chicagoland, at about 870,000 square feet, as compared to 18 stores in 2009. The size differential can be attributed to the shrinkage of stores, as the average proposed market this year was 33,486 square feet, a decrease of about 5,000 square feet from 2009 figures, the study says.

In comparing categories, there are fewer full-service stores proposed for Chicago, while there’s been a significant increase in gourmet and discount stores, the latter which has seen 19 new stores in the form of local market penetration by Aldi, Save-a-Lot and Aldi. Walmart has also proposed a few 30,000-square-foot to 40,000-square-foot Market stores and 10,000-square-foot to 15,000-square-foot Express stores in the Windy City.