CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio) – Whole Foods Market is planning a new location in Lakeview, taking over a prominent retail space at the corner of West Belmont Avenue and North Halsted Street.
The grocery chain has signed a lease for a two-level space in a 60,000-square-foot building developed by Chicago-based Hubbard Street Group, as reported by Crain's Chicago. The project, completed in 2023, is now nearly fully leased.
Other tenants in the building include Fifth Third Bank and VCA Blum Animal Hospital, which is relocating from a nearby site on North Clark Street.
Developers said the lease reflects strong demand in the neighborhood and continued interest in community-focused retail.
The site had previously been slated for an Amazon Fresh store, but that plan never materialized. Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, announced earlier this year it would close several Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations, with some spaces expected to be converted into Whole Foods stores.
It is not yet clear whether the Lakeview site is part of that broader strategy, and neither Amazon nor Whole Foods has provided an opening date.
The expansion comes as grocery retailers nationwide continue to grow their footprint. A recent report from commercial real estate firm CBRE projects nearly 21 million square feet of new grocery space will be added this year, driven by increased sales and foot traffic.
Hubbard Street Group said the development helps connect a previously underutilized site to the surrounding neighborhood, calling the area a “thriving” retail corridor.
