The future of the two Eagle grocery stores in DeKalb is uncertain following the recent corporate bankruptcy.

Eagle Food Stores in the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court last April.

Now, DeKalb looks to fill the vacancy. Only one food chain has shown interest in opening a store in DeKalb.

Sullivan’s Foods, based out of Savannah, has expressed interest to the city in putting a store at the Eagle building on South Fourth Street. However, there are some concerns holding it back.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said there are two reasons why Sullivan’s is hesitant to move in.

The first reason he identified is the lease for the South First Street building was “set too high” in price.

The second reason is Sullivan’s wants to sell packaged alcohol if it builds a store. This would require a Class A liquor license. Currently, all 16 Class A liquor licenses are in use. Sparrow said Sullivan’s would have to buy out one of the licenses.

Otherwise, the city council could go back, revisit the liquor licensing process and create a new liquor license for supermarkets, Sparrow said. He said he would not support such an action, however.

Sparrow said he thinks Sullivan’s wouldn’t need a liquor license to succeed financially.

“They were making money out there,” Sparrow said, referring to the South Fourth Street Eagle. He said he didn’t support having alcohol sold so close to a high school.

Scott Sullivan, owner of Sullivan’s Foods, was unavailable for comment.

Sparrow said he has the economic development team looking for interested supermarkets to fill the vacated spots.