Chicagoans headed to the local Foxtrot Market Tuesday for coffee, pastries and perhaps a to-go lunch. Instead, they were in for a terrible surprise.
Without warning, Foxtrot abruptly closed all 33 stores in Chicago, Texas, and Washington, D.C., as well as two stores in Dom’s Kitchen & Market, a small Chicago-based upscale grocery chain it acquired in November. .
Outfox Hospitality said in a statement that it had “explored numerous avenues to continue operations, but despite our good faith and exhaustive efforts, we have not found a viable option.” With the store closures, the Dom’s Go/Foxtrot app was also shut down and all customer-centric operations such as delivery were disabled. Snaxshot of the Substack Newsletter reported that Outfox Hospitality plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, meaning it will liquidate its assets. The company did not mention the bankruptcy filing in its statement and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
Foxtrot, which describes itself as “not just a convenience store, but a lifestyle brand,” gave little public indication that it was in trouble.
Just three weeks ago, the restaurant was touting new spring menu items in a press release, including coffee date smoothies, veggie breakfast tacos, and pepperoni pizza, which are “the perfect homemade accompaniments to cozy mornings and sunny afternoons.”
Founded in 2013 as a beverage delivery app targeting students at the University of Chicago, Foxtrot opened its first brick-and-mortar store in 2015. Long before the pandemic forced grocery stores to embrace options other than in-person shopping, Foxtrot promised Chicagoans wine delivery in 30 minutes. , craft beer, gifts, pantry items and more, and said it will be a “better kind of convenience store.”
The concept caught the attention of investors, raising a first round of $1.1 million in 2015, a second round of $6 million in 2018, and another $18.6 million last year. in 2018 forbes Co-founder Michael Ravitra said in an interview with me that the market has a specific focus and target customer, and that while the average age is 32, Chicagoans of all ages shop at the market.
John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service (via Getty Images)
Foxtrot stores have become common throughout the city, including the famous store on North Michigan Avenue in the former Chicago Tribune Building, now a condominium building, and the store in Willis Tower (also known as Sears Tower). Ta.
In many parts of the North Side, markets became hangouts, with patrons sitting in chairs enjoying coffee or beer, others relaxing at outdoor tables, or working on laptops.
Fueled by investment, Foxtrot eventually expanded beyond the Windy City to four locations in Dallas, Austin, and the trendy metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. Foxtrot was widely seen as a model for small-format grocery stores that Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are launching in New York City.
Meanwhile, Dom’s was the brainchild of Bob Mariano, who operated his own grocery brand, Mariano’s, until it was acquired by Kroger. He left the company and launched his first Dom’s grocery store in 2021. There was a vegetable butcher shop where customers could prepare their chosen vegetables for stir-fries, pasta substitutes, and other appetizers. Dom’s also sells eye-catching salads, sandwiches and grab-and-go food, making it a fresh food version of its Foxtrot location.
“I shopped at Dom’s, the Chicago-based Lux grocery store group that merged with Foxtrot. It was the kind of place you’d stop in to pick up a few things for a cocktail party; The product selection and prices were beyond acceptable.”It feels designed for everyday grocery shopping,” said Chandra Ram, associate editorial director for food at Food & Wine. . “I was grateful when I wanted to buy delicious cheese, flowers, wine, and high-end non-alcoholic canned beverages, but everything was noticeably expensive. Why bring customers to Whole Foods when it’s a cheaper option? You’re going to need more.’ Go back. ”
On Tuesday, Foxtrot fans took to social media to mourn the loss of their beloved destination. “Oh! No more Foxtrot in Washington DC and the rest of the world,” posted his X account titled Washington Problems. But there was some consolation. An X user named Jessica Seidman said that at one store in D.C., employees were handing out free bottles of wine.
If Outfox takes that step, the bankruptcy court may not have as much to liquidate after all. All assets may be consumed.
