As comments on our recent post pitting the South Loop against the West Loop revealed, South Loopers still lament the lack of retail, boutiques and restaurants in their growing neighborhood. Mostly, this kind of commercial growth is gradual in a “new” neighborhood, but some additions count as major milestones – the opening of a large grocery store or a Starbucks, for example, can have a psychological impact far beyond its actual utility.
So we were intrigued by today’s Chicago Sun-Times story that gourmet grocer Fox & Obel may open a store at the northeast corner of Wabash and Roosevelt, a 34,000-square-foot site that is currently vacant. Fox & Obel CEO Keith Montague did not confirm the possible opening.
The store has been in its Streeterville location at 401 E Illinois St for six years, and nearby residents consider it a key neighborhood asset. The high-end shop offers gourmet grocery items – locally grown organic produce, prime beef aged on site, fined imported cheeses, etc. – as well as cooking classes and a to-go section of prepared foods that rivals many restaurants.
If Fox & Obel does come to the South Loop, no one will be happier about the addition than real estate developers struggling to sell condos in a crowded market. Anyone who has been to the Streeterville store knows that the guys behind it are no dummies. If they’re betting on the South Loop – wisely or not – homebuyers will take notice.
This is exactly what the area needs. Of course, most everyone will still buy the bulk of their groceries at Jewel or Dominick’s or Peapod. But this kind of high end option is exacly what the neighborhood is lacking. Here’s hoping they actually choose that spot, and not another giant subiurban style mall like Whole Foods did.
I know I’d go there at least a couple times a month for stuff.
Isn’t that location a tiny little landmarked building right now? I assume they’d just keep the facade and build a modern facility behind/around it?
Grocery stores right by L stations are always good, this would definitely be a good fit.
Carter-
That place was landmarked? You might be right, but it looked like an old decaying dump in danger of collapse to me. I seem to remember that it had a somewhat fancy (decaying) facade, but nothing really special.
This would be the place directly across Wabash from the Bongo Room (formerly Room 12), right?
I could be very well be wrong, there’s some sort of sign but I may be thinking of the hotel across the street – it is definitely a dump, I guess I always assumed it would have been torn down eons ago if it wasn’t being landmarked. I think I could take it out with a sledgehammer in less than a day.
Just walked by and I stand corrected on a few counts – I didn’t see any landmark info, but the building has been totally restored and rebuilt, and looks pretty fabulous and ready for business.
this is what happens when you only walk by an intersection rushing to/from work, you miss the details.
Last I read a couple of months ago in Crains (in an article mostly about Jewel and Dominicks) was that this was going to be a SunFresh. This was confirmed independantly. Now, that deal may have fallen through, but it doesn’t sound like F&O has gotten past the letter of intent stage.
Personally, I’d love either one, but I lean toward Fox and Obel.
This is great for the South Loop but that corner is a lot more congested than their location on Illinois. That part of the South Loop is actually on its way to becoming something. If only all the people they hoped could afford to will buy a place and move in.