Local Foods Market, Distribution Center Opens Tuesday In Bucktown

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Jun 29, 2015 5:40PM

(Photo credit: Barry Brecheisen)

The long awaited Local Foods (1427 W. Willow St.) opens tomorrow in its giant, shiny facility in Bucktown near The Hideout and Ada Street.

The location will serve as a food hub to distribute produce, meat and dairy from the region to local restaurants and grocery stores. You'll also be able to buy food on-site in a grocery store billed as a "year round farmer's market," and a cafe helmed by chef Abra Berens (check out the menu at Eater). Local Foods has also folded Butcher and Larder into the facility, where the restaurant is starting a dry curing program for country hams, prosciutto and other classic cured items.

Tuesday at noon, Local Foods is having a grand opening ceremony with small bites from several local restaurants that will be using it as a distribution hub, such as Trencherman, Fat Rice and Lula Cafe. Local Foods will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., though they will be closed for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.