Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market, known for their fusion of grocery store and restaurant styles, are reportedly headed for bankruptcy after closing all stores and laying off employees.
The move comes about five months after the two companies merged to form Outfox Hospitality, according to Substack's Snapshot newsletter. Outfox Hospitality is the parent company that is preparing to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a court proceeding that terminates a company's operations. The grocer officially closed Tuesday at 33 Foxtrots stores in the Chicago, Austin, Dallas and Washington, D.C., areas, as well as two Dom's stores in Chicago. The company said it had considered several options to continue operations, but “despite our good faith and exhaustive efforts, we have not found a viable option.”
Employees were notified Tuesday morning, just hours before the store was scheduled to permanently close, according to Eater Chicago.
“This decision was not made lightly. We understand the impact it will have on our loyal customers, and our dedicated team members.” the company said in a statement on social media. “Thank you so much for your continued support and loyalty over the years. It is my greatest honor to serve you and be a part of your daily life.
Founded in 2021, Dom's is a hybrid gourmet grocery store known for quality ingredients, fresh produce, and prepared foods. Each store featured a seating area and a food hall offering a variety of options including sandwiches, salads, soups, and homemade pizza. Foxtrot started as a delivery app and then branched out into brick-and-mortar retail, but it's a chain that offers upscale and convenient shopping, including a selection of artisanal and locally sourced products, along with cafes and delivery services.
In February, Outfox hired Rob Twyman, formerly of Whole Foods, as CEO. He replaced Liz Williams, who left the company to become chief executive officer of El Pollo Loco. In early 2022, Foxtrot announced $100 million in funding and had plans to expand to locations such as New York, Nashville, and Miami.
