Chicago's retail industry has been hit hard, resulting in many vacant storefronts across the city.
Foxtrot Market and Dom's Kitchen & Market will close all of their stores immediately, Crain's reported. In Foxtrot he had 33 locations and in Dom's he had 2 locations.
The move comes less than six months after the two brands were combined under parent company Outfox Hospitality.
A statement posted on Dom's website expressed regret over the closure, citing exhaustive efforts to find alternative solutions. Sources said the employee had been fired.
Foxtrot's first brick-and-mortar store, located at 1019 West Lake Street, sent employees home and locked the doors early Monday morning. Meanwhile, Dom's stores posted closure signs, leaving suppliers unsure of the future of unpaid bills and products still on shelves.
The closure is a setback for craft breweries in the area. Local supplier Hopewell Brewing expressed concern about the missed opportunity to connect with customers.
The news shocked the entire Chicago community, especially among shoppers who have seen the rapid expansion of Foxtrot over the past decade and the rise of Dom post-pandemic. Both Chicago-based brands garnered significant support, with Foxtrot raising more than $160 million in funding before the merger.
Founded by industry veterans including Bob Mariano, Dom's aimed to revolutionize the grocery shopping experience with premium products. The closure comes as a surprise given the company's ambitious plans to open multiple stores by 2025.
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Foxtrot, known for its trendy convenience stores, has had a bumpy ride, with layoffs and slowed expansion plans. Despite a change in management and a merger with Dom's, the company struggled to maintain its growth trajectory.
Social media exploded with reactions to the news, reflecting the community's disappointment and surprise. Representatives from Outfox Hospitality and the founders of Foxtrot and Dom's have remained silent on the matter.
—Quinn Donahue
