CHICAGO — Nearly five months after two local upscale grocery stores announced a major merger, Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market stores abruptly closed across Chicago Tuesday.
Customers arriving at Foxtrot and Dom stores on Tuesday were greeted with a sign announcing the store's permanent closure and thanking customers for their patronage.
Dom's announced in a statement that all 33 Foxtrot stores and two Dom's stores will close starting Tuesday. This includes Foxtrot locations in Dallas, Austin, and Washington, DC.
“We have explored numerous avenues to continue operations, but despite our honest and thorough efforts, we have not found a viable option,” the company said in a statement. “We know this news is shocking and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.”
Foxtrot, the upscale convenience store, is a Chicago startup that opened its first store in Fulton Market in 2015, according to Crain's. After multiple rounds of funding, the company expanded into Texas and Washington, DC.
Dom's, founded by grocery mogul Bob Mariano, opened its first store in Lincoln Park in 2021 and expanded to Old Town the following year. The company had plans to open 13 more stores by 2025.
Foxtrot and Dom's announced their merger in late November to create a new company, Outfox Hospitality, that will help grow the brands regionally and nationally, company executives said at the time. The merger comes after Foxtrot announced job cuts due to stock market turmoil, Crain's reported.
Employees and customers were shocked by the sudden closure on Tuesday, with many looking to visit the store for the last time, while employees were seen hugging each other and leaving with merchandise. Some Dom employees gathered for drinks outside the store early Tuesday morning after hearing their jobs were no longer available.
Outside the Division Street Foxtrot store in Wicker Park on Tuesday morning, customers expressed shock and disappointment at the chain's sudden closure.
Bella Chapa said she comes to Foxtrot almost every day and participates in the company's membership program. She said she was “shocked” to hear the news of her closing on Tuesday.
“I moved to Chicago partially for the Foxtrot. My apartment is literally two doors down, and I saw this property and thought, 'Oh my gosh, it's so convenient.' They have the best selection of everything,” she said. “I had a Foxtrot budget in my line item.”
Neighbor Harry Gibbons also lives nearby and said he came to the Division Street Foxtrot “literally every day.”
She wanted to stop by again on Tuesday to buy company goods before closing, but it was too late. Now she's wondering how she could use her $100 Foxtrot gift card someone gave her, if she could.
“I feel like there was never really a heads-up,” Gibbons said. “I like it and would like to replace it with something from here.”
Kayla Pineda, a barista at Wicker Park Foxtrot, said she was completely blindsided by the closure when her manager called her this morning with the news. She hopes to be paid for at least her remaining sick time, and she plans to apply for her unemployment benefits as soon as possible.
“Fortunately, I always keep an up-to-date resume. But for people who rely solely on work or don't have side jobs or anything like that, this is just their main income,” she says. said. “It really sucks.”
In addition to store employees, Outfox has about 100 full-time employees in Chicago, according to Eater. There was no closure notice for the company in the state's WARN report, which tracks mass layoffs. Illinois businesses with 75 or more full-time employees are legally required to give employees at least 60 days' notice of mass layoffs, but this does not apply if the company files for bankruptcy. It also applies.
More than 20 neighbors gathered outside Dom's Market, 2730 N. Halsted St., to shop one last time before the grocery store closes at noon. However, the management stopped people from entering at least 15 minutes before that. They declined to comment to the media.
One of the employees was seen walking out with a bag of alcohol from the store. He said the closure was sudden, leaving people angry and scrambling to find work.
“It definitely has a rundown feel to it,” said Stephen Koch, a shopper in the area. “There's a feeling of whiplash. Some of the employees are obviously drunk at this point and are stuffing as much groceries as they can into their bags. … It's a horrible sight. The carpet is coming out from under them. It was pulled out.”
Amelia Merchant and her friends stopped by and received free mugs and bags from the store.
“We came here because we just couldn't believe it and wanted to see it for ourselves,” Merchant said. “It was a nice place to shop. The food was prepared, it was well organized, well stocked, it was more upscale than Jewel, and to me it was my closet.”
This is breaking news. Please check the latest information.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast.
