After a sudden and widespread shuttering of stores five months ago, Foxtrot Café & Market is reviving its presence in the Chicago area, commencing with its Gold Coast store at 23 W. Maple St. slated to reopen Thursday.
This store, emblematic of the upscale grocery chain's renewed engagement with the local community, promises an expanded coffee service paired with a harmonious blend of newfangled food offerings—an attempt to reforge its relationship with its customer base after a financial fallout led to Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier in the year, a story first reported by CBS News Chicago.
Mike LaVitola, Chairman of Foxtrot, intends to bring the company back to its founding values of showcasing locally sourced products and cool, artisanal snacks, noting in a statement obtained by Eater Chicago the importance of "getting it right" at individual locations before taking any significant expansionary steps, his sentiment reflects a cautious approach to avoid past missteps that led to the brand's downturn.
Patrons can anticipate not just a retail experience, but a story with each product—LaVitola emphasized a commitment to connecting customers to the narratives behind their purchases, stating "There’s just going to be a lot more of that content — for lack of a better word — and storytelling happening in the store versus online" in an interview with Eater Chicago whereas the coffee bar, renowned during Foxtrot's previous foray into the market, will reign once more with offerings such as The Milk Man Blend and Early Train Espresso—these and the food menus, LaVitola believes, are a true reflection of Foxtrot's heart and soul—a sentiment echo in the brand's press releases.
While future unveilings in the city and Dallas are on the horizon, including anticipated locations in Fulton Market and Old Town among others, the company's reticent approach highlights a careful strategy to re-establish Foxtrot’s niche within its formerly successful North Side Chicago neighborhoods, however, haunting Foxtrot's reemergence is an ongoing class-action lawsuit filed by former workers of Foxtrot and Dom's parent company, Outfox Hospitality, accusing the company of failing to adhere to state and federal worker protection laws during the abrupt closures as reported by CBS News Chicago.
