Fox & Obel Fires Head Baker, Paychecks Bouncing?

Photo by Renee Rendler-Kaplan

Fox & Obel's outstanding bread has always been one of their signature items. That may be about to change: Steve Dolinsky reported yesterday that Pamela Fitzpatrick, head baker at F&O for more than 10 years, has been fired. Combined with rumors of bouncing paychecks and a few daily deal offerings, this may not signal good times ahead for the River North gourmet outpost.

Fitzpatrick, formerly of La Brea bakery (otherwise known as Mecca for bread geeks) originally came to Chicago to work for Rich Melman at Lettuce Entertain You. Her breads are known for deep crusts and interesting flavors, and she also supplies many of Chicago's best restaurants, including avec, Lula and Nightwood.

We've been a bit worried about Fox and Obel for a while. Gourmet stores are a prime candidate for recession belt-tightening, and F&O's prices have always been a bit too high. Dolinsky writes that Fitzpatrick only confirmed check-bouncing rumors he'd heard from other employees, and that owner Bob Bolton refused to comment on the situation.

Don't worry about Fitzpatrick - she's already got an offer from Melman to return to Lettuce.

(Ed. Note: Fox & Obel was reportedly behind on their rent as recently as last March. — CS)

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By Anthony Todd in Food on January 2, 2012 10:00 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

beeman91

I'm all for unique, but The Fox & Obel is just too outrageous when it comes to their prices. I have to admit the I bought 2 Groupons ($25 for $50) because I really do like what the Fox & Obel has to offer, especially as far as prime cuts of beef. However, I think 1/2 off only brings them back down to reality. I don't even think that makes anything a deal in their store. I think they would have had a better chance if they lowered some of their prices, or starting carrying some less expensive, but still unique items. They were foolish to think that they were exempt from the consequences of this struggling economy. I'll be sad to see them go, especially when I have Groupons. I guess I had better get in and use those Groupons ASAP before I find myself needing a refund!

THEODORA

Wow!

monichica

There's a Groupon today being offered for Fox and Obel, so clearly they're in need for a quick influx of cash....

cold_war_ice

"Pathetic" is a bit hyperbolic, maybe. It's just how it is in one particular neighborhood, though even in the Loop area there's Overflow, Cafecito, Artisan Cellar, Argo Tea, and two Intelligentsia locations (if you count the one at Millenium Park.) A couple of those are in River North. Maybe they should have asked me.

mark olson

Im truly amazed at this city's inability to retain quality establishments like gourmet grocers, local coffee shops, bakeries, etc. Almost any other decent sized city has dozens of these places, often locally owned, that make those places unique. Are the rents just too high in Chicago and need to come to reality? Is there a lack of foot traffic and density despite looking like a big crowded city? Some tourists from Atlanta stopped me in River North and asked me to recommend a good local coffee shop - I had to tell them there are none, just Starbucks everywhere. The closest decent coffee would be Inteligentsia in the Loop a good 15 min walk away in the freezing cold. Thats pathetic.

ChicagoD

You're right Mark. Everyone knows that the places to judge is the Loop, because that's where Chicagoans looking for good, local experiences go.

Nicholas

They've been circling the drain for some time now. There are now plenty of options for quality and convenient foods and Fox & Obel's prices are too high, even for Streeterville.

David

I thought Fox & Obel had stopped paying their rent months/over a year ago and was about to get closed down at that point. They've been having financial problems for a while now, so this isn't too surprising.