(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Following the unexpected closure of all of its grocery stores across the nation, Foxtrot appears to be trotting back in Chicago and two Texas cities.
Foxtrot's 33 locations around the country closed up shop in late April 2024, along with its sister retailer Dom’s Kitchen and Market. Now, though, the founder of Foxtrot has announced plans to open several of its locations in Chicago, Dallas and Austin, Texas this summer.
In an interview with the WBBM Noon Business Hour on Wednesday, Izzy Kharasch, president of the Chicago-based Hospitality Works, said the company is picking its “very best locations.”
“Which makes a lot of sense, you know, go where you had the greatest amount of success and start there,” he said.
“It really had a lot to do with a very aggressive growth strategy that really backfired,”
Kharasch said April’s closures took both workers and customers by surprise.
“[The employees] had no idea that this was going to happen, and they essentially showed up to work and were told they had no jobs,” he said. “To those of us who shopped there, patrons, it was a big shock. You saw a very busy store — all of them were busy all the time — great concept, but it was a real surprise.”
The reopened Foxtrot stores will maintain the same layout and merchandising, focusing on small and local makers.
Officials said the first stores to reopen in Chicago will be the former Old Town and Gold Coast neighborhood locations.
In the May 10 sale of Foxtrot’s assets, New York-based Further Point Enterprises placed the winning bid on the grocery chain, and that company is working with the Foxtrot founder on this latest new venture.
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