Nuts for the holidays: Dominick's lights a fire under shopping experience

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a Chicago-created TVcommercial featuring a crooning Tony Bennett are just two of theways Dominick's grocery store chain is recreating its image.

The chestnuts can be roasted or carmelized at Dominick's newlyremodeled stores in suburban Lake Zurich and Willowbrook.

The chestnuts are part of a "nut bar" where shoppers can sampleand pick among pecans, cashews, chestnuts and 37 other kinds ofnuts, and watch peanut butter being made, said Jeffery Norkiewicz,vice president of retail marketing execution.

The stores -- at 345 S. Rand Rd. in Lake Zurich and 6300 S.Robert Kingery Hwy. in Willowbrook -- are among 21 Dominick's …