THE FALL OF A HOMETOWN TREASURE: The demise of the once-beloved grocery chain Treasure Island, which introduced Chicagoans in the 1960s to then-exotic European foods, was years in the making

The Kamberoses used their Sure-Save money to open the first Treasure Island in 1963, two years after Julia Child published "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and just as Americans loosened their grips on Jell-O molds and got to know brie and extra-virgin olive oil. [...]money initially willed to his offspring came under Maria Kamberos' control. Photos provided to Crain's by a senior employee show a loaf of Treasure Island bakery bread with a July 24, 2018, sell-by sticker placed on top of an original July 4 sticker. [...]store-level employees say paychecks not deposited immediately would sometimes take days to clear or would bounce. According to a notice of assignment filed Sept. 28 by Patrick Cavanaugh, a partner with High Ridge Partners, the liquidation firm that took over Treasure Island's assets, the grocer had $2.9 million in assets, including $2.45 million of inventory, and $12.82 million in liabilities, including $900,000 in debt to Marano and other produce suppliers.