The French Market Announces Specialty Food Stores for Fall Opening

By Camela Furry in Food on Aug 25, 2009 3:40PM

The MetraMarket, which broke ground last year, is finally taking shape in the 100,000 sq. ft. space on the street level of the Ogilvie Transportation Center (bordered by Lake, Canal, Washington and Clinton streets). The developer recently announced at least half of the tenants who will occupy the Chicago French Market, a part of the MetraMarket retail development that promises to be reminiscent of European open-air markets. Among the tenants signed on for the French Market's late October opening are local favorites Pastoral, Flip Crepes, and Vanille Pastisserie, as well as Chicago Organics who will offer an array of locally grown and certified organic produce, meats, and dairy. Other purveyors on the list are Albano's Deli, Canady Le Choclatier, Completely Nuts, Espression by Lavazza, Fraternite Notre Dame, Sweet Miss Giving's, and Wisconsin Cheese Mart.

The French Market will be open year-round, Monday through Saturday from 7am-8pm and will be operated by Bensidoun Investment LLC, which manages several markets in and around Paris. Bensidoun currently operates several local outdoor summer markets like the French Market at Nettlehorst School in Chicago (Broadway and Melrose on Saturdays through October), as well as the Grand Central Market in New York City and Pike Place in Seattle.