A James Beard Award semifinalist is firing up the grill in Plainfield. Chicago chef Lamar Moore is headlining a community tailgate celebrating the grand opening of Woodman's Food Market, serving ribs and kielbasa from Coleman All Natural Meats while local high school booster clubs compete for cash prizes.
The tailgate marks the latest milestone for the massive 243,500-square-foot grocery store, which sits at the intersection of Illinois Route 59 and 119th Street, according to Shaw Local. The Wisconsin-based grocer, which operates stores across Illinois and Wisconsin, opened its doors in Plainfield on Sept. 29. Shaw Local reports the community tailgate will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, though a listing on the Plainfield events calendar on Patch places the same tailgate at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.
Who Is Chef Lamar Moore?
Moore was born and raised on Chicago's South Side and now owns Etc. restaurant in the city. He earned recognition as a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes region, and his resume includes cooking for the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, as well as for former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, the station's report notes. At the Plainfield tailgate, he's expected to serve up ribs and kielbasa sourced from Coleman All Natural Meats.
Joining him will be Mel Coleman Jr., a fifth-generation member of the Coleman family, who plans to share details about the brand's 150-year history. In a statement tied to the event, Coleman said his company is thrilled to partner with Woodman's for its Plainfield grand opening, adding that Woodman's has been an important partner in bringing Coleman products to consumers across the Midwest. He said families will be able to try Coleman products while enjoying food, fun and local school spirit, per the same account. Coleman products are now available at Woodman's stores throughout the Chicagoland area.
A Tailgate With Stakes for Local Schools
Beyond the food, the event doubles as a fundraiser. The community tailgate includes a school-spirit challenge benefiting booster organizations connected to Plainfield East and Plainfield North high schools. Guests will receive a token to vote for their preferred school, and the school receiving the most votes will earn $1,000 for its booster organization, while each other participating school will receive $250.
Guests can also enter to win a Coleman tailgating package and other giveaways while supplies last. The official Plainfield grand-opening page from Woodman's promotes additional family-friendly touches, including face painting, a balloon artist and a sweepstakes with prizes, as detailed on the company's website.
Behind the New Plainfield Store
Woodman's has built a reputation on offering what it describes as the widest variety of grocery items at the best prices, a philosophy reflected in the scale of the new Plainfield location. Like other Woodman's stores, the Plainfield site operates its own gas station, and this location features more gas pumps than other Woodman's stores. The chain's app also allows shoppers to schedule pickup and delivery, locate items in-store and access digital manufacturer coupons.
Coleman's pork lineup has been expanding across the region this year. The company announced in April that 23 Coleman-branded all-natural pork products would be available at all 20 Woodman's store locations across Wisconsin and Illinois, according to a news release from Coleman. The Plainfield tailgate gives shoppers a chance to sample that partnership firsthand while supporting their neighborhood schools.
