The shop will open with a full lineup of breads and packaged goods - the meats come later. more ›

Unlike the Tea Party Express, who seemingly universally embraced hocking their political slogans and agenda items, Occupy Wall Street movements aren’t exactly happy monetizing the movement with promotional products. more ›

It looks like Japan is poised to blow into the Windy City in the form of Uniqlo—the stylish and sleek Japanese retailer known for its now-fabled cashmere sweaters and an overall design esthetic that is at once basic and modern. (Think: the Apple Store—but for apparel.) more ›

Downtown worker bees and residents, rejoice! Your quick, inexpensive food options are about to multiply. We heard about Foodease (ok, the name isn't great) back in July, when the story broke that Lettuce Entertain You was planning a new retail/quickservice venture in Water Tower Place. Foodlife, their current upscale riff on the mall food court, is staying but the Foodlife Market, off to the side, will be closing to make way for the new 5000 square-foot Foodease. We got a pre-opening construction tour on Friday, and here are the highlights. more ›

Under dozens of kitchen sinks and tucked behind countless closet doors, something is brewing in Chicago. It's beer. More precisely, it's home-brewed beer. And with more and more beer enthusiasts adopting the hobby of fermenting their own suds, Chicago home brewers Jared Saunders and Whit Nelson realized the community begged for a place to gather, learn, talk shop and gear up. From that idea, Brew Camp was born. more ›

Today in the saga of Wal-Mart and its plan to assimilate Chicago neighborhoods like the Borg turned Captain Picard into Locutus: 1st Ward Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno said he "emphatically" told the big box retailer he doesn't think a proposed store in Logan Square would be a good fit for his ward. more ›

Real Naked Food, a new small organic grocery store, has just opened in Wicker Park. The store, which carries organic produce, packaged goods and cleaning products, also has a huge bulk section - perfect for the local baker who needs a few pounds of flour. The store officially opens on April 22, but it's open right now with limited stock. We visited last week and snapped a few pictures - don't worry, the shelves will be full soon. more ›

Chicagorealestatedaily.com is reporting that gourmet food market Fox & Obel is trying their damnedest to maintain their Streeterville digs, in which they're behind on rent. more ›

Looks like Borders closing most of their stores in Chicago is fueling speculation that Walmart may be eyeing those spaces in their plan to open 24 stores in the city. Bruce Beal, who organized one of many opposition groups the last time WalMart was looking at a Lakeview location, says he has a "reliable source" that the retail giant is now targeting the soon-to-shutter Borders in Lakeview, just steps down from the proposed store that was supposed to go into the old Petsmart. We contacted Beal via Facebook to see if he would divulge any more information regarding the source. Beal replied that he needed to do more footwork to conifrm his source's claim that WalMart has renewed its interest in opening a Lakeview store. more ›

Wow, Lakeview, a lot of you really don't want a Wal-Mart, do ya? more ›

It's called "Black Friday" because it's the one day of the year where retailers know they're going to turn a profit ("black ink" = profits?). But the traditionally largest shopping day of the year will snarl traffic and test nerves like none other. more ›

After a seemingly endless construction, the new 18,000 square-foot Lincoln Park Apple Store at North and Clybourn is slated to open 10 a.m. tomorrow, undoubtedly adding even more traffic to an already over-congested area of the city.Red Eye's Scott Kleinberg has a nice sneak peek of the store, next door to the beautified North/Clybourn Red Line subway station. more ›

In a vote that is sure to spark a new round of debate of the future of Chicago's retail landscape, the city's Plan Commission voted Thursday to recommend construction of a new Wal-Mart in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood. The store, which is part of a larger project to develop housing, retail, hotels and dining on the former Ryerson Steel site at 111th Street, next to the Bishop Ford. The final decision goes before the full city council next month for a vote. 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale says he's counting on support from his fellow aldermen to get the project through. "We want to get people out of their homes and back to work. And if we don't find a new source of revenue here in the City of Chicago, we're going to be forced to lay more people off in the years to come," Beale told WBEZ. more ›

Ever since Kyle McHugh opened Drinks Over Dearborn in late 2008, he's weathered a series of misfortunes that would have Job shaking his head in empathy. McHugh has dealt with health issues, shrinking consumer budgets in a recessionary economy and the major problem of being a boutique liquor store in an office building in River North that requires a buzzer to enter. That last issue is the one we find most endearing about DoD, and the main reason we compare going there to visiting a speakeasy. more ›

The Metra French Market announced the addition of four more vendors. Green City Market shoppers are already familiar with Zullo's. Their new shop will sell traditional pizzas, assorted pastas, panini, pastries, sandwiches, soups and other Italian specialties that change daily. Another farmers market staple, Olives4You, will specialize in marinated and stuffed olives, tapenades, assorted pita breads, vinegars, olive oils and eventually homemade hummus and fresh, ready-to-eat specialties. more ›

Since its closing in the winter of 2007, the historic South Loop location of Carson Pirie Scott has stayed relatively empty. But a big-box store chain may have its eyes on the space as a future home, according to the Sun-Times. more ›

Chicagoist is starting a new series to get better acquainted with our local wine experts. We'll be chatting with sommeliers, wine directors, consultants, suppliers, vitners, bloggers...a lot of people who drink a lot of wine for a living. more ›

Back when we visited Half Acre's Lincoln Square brewery in April, one of the construction projects still in progress was the buildout of a retail space. Gabriel Magliaro's plans were to have an in-wall draft system featuring Half Acre selections, special brews and guest beers; bottles and merchandise. more ›

Crain's reports that Kraft is in talks to sell its Maxwell House brand coffee to Sara Lee. This is part of Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld's ongoing efforts to raise enough capital to increase its bid to purchase confectioner Cadbury. That bid now stands at over $16 billion. Kraft has until November 9 to raise $9 billion in financing and make a formal offer for Cadbury to the British Takeover Panel. [Crain's] more ›

Like most, our personal budgets have tightened significantly over the past year or so. Not that cash burned a hole in our pocket before. It's just that we're being even more cognizant of closeouts and deep discounts at the wine shop than ever before. Rare is the wine that we'll buy at retail. more ›

According to an article in today's Trib it looks like beer, wine and other alcoholic packaged goods could be coming soon to a Walgreen's near you. After Prohibition the drugstore began selling alcohol at many of their locations, but that was phased out in early 90's because it was deemed too costly. Now, according to company spokeswoman Tiffani Washington, new computer systems will make it easier to manage. Profits at the chain have been slipping recently. Perhaps booze can pump them back up. We're completely in favor of the change, as it would mean another way we'd be able to avoid CVS, not to mention it's easier to find a Walgreens. more ›

Since their opening last year, the South Loop Wine Cellar has become a fixture of the neighborhood. Owner Amy Garman holds regular tastings that draw large crowds, and the store is gaining a reputation for stocking really excellent wines at prices that won’t break the bank.
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Mars Inc. is closing five of its six Illinois Ethel's Chocolate locations by the end of the month. Fans of Mars's haute chocolate salon will have to travel to Skokie to get their fix. [Crain's] more ›

When it comes to liquor stores we tend to be equal opportunity. We'll search high and low, near and far, for the best deals at stores large and small. While the boxy superstores like Sam's, Binny's and Armanetti's have their merits, the smaller stores are noted for their more personal touch. The LUSH Wine & Spirits locations in University and Roscoe Villages are wonderful for customers because they can sample practically everything LUSH has to offer and will work with customers to acquire hard-to-find wine, beer and spirits. more ›

Monica Eng vented about the long lines at Garrett Popcorn's Randolph Street location in the Stew today, and also expressed gratitude that they've opened a temporary "Holiday Express" location on Boul Mich (625 N. Michigan) for pre-packaged popcorn only. So those of you wanting to buy Garrett for gifts now know where to go so the rest of us don't have to wait in line waiting for you to decide on a tin. more ›

Mattel, Inc. has announced that - as of an undisclosed future date - the "Samantha" doll will be moved into the American Girl archives. What, is Samantha not good enough to compete with the Julie doll and her hip hair and roller skates!? Booooo! To appease your sense of loss, run over to the new American Girl Place store and meander past Samantha's display one last time. more ›

The new American Girl Place store opened Wednesday at Watertower Place, positioned to cash in on its proximity to mall traffic. Five store entrances lead shoppers into a space that is 30 percent larger, newly festooned with a doll T-shirt design shop, personal shopping rooms and a “streetscape” of doll service shops (shoppes?) like an ear piercing store and a beauty salon. Already the largest of the retailer’s flagship stores, Chicago’s American Girl Place has generated nearly half the cumulative traffic of the nation’s five retail stores since 1998 – 13 million visits. The move across the street will create 50 new full time positions and 120 part-time holiday positions. more ›

Good news for commuters. Finally. After 7 years of “now leasing” signs in Metra’s Ogilvie Transportation Center, the concourse under the tracks will begin to see construction on a “European-style” market. more ›

For some time now, Macy’s has been sitting quietly in Chicago’s retail corner, attempting to appeal to some kind of market and curb the company’s tumbling earnings, all while attracting minimal attention from pissed off former Field’s customers. But while local department store equivalent Von Maur is doing well, with plans for store expansions, Macy’s continues to trim jobs (it’s called “restructuring,” y’all). The latest: an undisclosed number of support positions across the board at former Field’s stores, with about 10 alteration and personal shopper positions eliminated at the State Street flagship store. more ›

Today was supposed to by the last kernel for the popular Garrett’s Popcorn Shop on Michigan Avenue, but it’s been granted a stay for the moment. According to Garrett’s P.R. people, the lease has been extended for an unspecified amount of time. more ›