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Chicago's Downtown Farmstand To Close

By Anthony Todd in Food on Jun 6, 2012 2:40PM

2012_6_6_Farmstand.jpg It's a darn shame to see wonderful projects close. Chicago's Downtown Farmstand, a quiet colorful haven for local and artisanal products in the middle of the bustling loop, is going to be closing at the end of June.

The store opened in 2008 as a project of the city's Department of Cultural Affairs. It was a blessing for local producers, tons of whom stocked the Farmstand's shelves and found new customers. Tastings and events happened every week, and if you couldn't make it to a farmer's market or just wanted a tasty local lunch, the Farmstand was a great option. In 2011, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance awarded the store its "Golden Beet" award for promoting sustainable eating. But the last day of operation is June 27.

We'd gotten a few tips that the store was closing, but hadn't been able to confirm anything. Then, this morning, Pleasant House Bakery (whose amazing pies you can buy at the Farmstand until it closes) announced the closing on Facebook:

Chicago's Downtown Farmstand will be closing its doors on June 27. We want to thank James for seeking us out and supporting us in our first year of business. Their mission was a great one, to bring locally made and grown artisan foods and ingredients to the public. The Farmstand was part of the City of Chicago's Cultural program. Makes sense because food and culture go hand in hand. It's sad to see such a forward-thinking program come to a close but maybe it will lead to something just as great down the road. Thanks for supporting us there!"

We have reached out to the city and the store for comment, but haven't heard anything back. If there's a reprieve, we'll definitely let you know. The rumors we've got indicate that city funding cuts led to the closure.