2nd Foxtrot Reopens in Chicago
Foxtrot 2.0 has its second store. The urban market and café has unveiled another location in its hometown of Chicago as it returns to business following the dissolution of its short-lived parent company, Outfox Hospitality.
The store at 1562 North Wells Street in the city’s Old Town neighborhood welcomed shoppers the morning of Sept. 19. As with the other store in the nearby Gold Coast area, which opened Sept. 5, this one includes an expanded coffee and café menu and a streamlined, curated assortment of convenience-oriented products.
[RELATED: Foxtrot Is Ready for Much-Anticipated Relaunch in Chicago]
The Old Town site includes two outdoor patios, where Foxtrot will host tastings and samples from local vendor partners during the opening-week festivities. The rear patio is private and includes seating for up to 30 patrons.
Foxtrot founder and Chairman Mike LaVitola, who took back control of the company in the wake of the bankruptcy action that shuttered stores this past spring, said that the second opening reflects a company that’s carefully on the move again. "Foxtrot’s latest updates, from our beloved gummies, coffee, hot food and CPG products, continue to embody Foxtrot's commitment to delivering high-quality products with a personal touch. Whether it’s through our partnerships with local makers or the innovative brands we showcase, we're constantly evolving to bring our customers the very best — every single day,” he said.
To LaVitola’s point, the hot food offerings have been a focal point for the retailer as it revamps its business. New menu items include breakfast tacos, pressed paninis and farm-to-bowl salads, and the café will also carry exclusive coffee blends from Chicago-based partners.
One industry analyst weighed in on the second act for Foxtrot, as it works to re-open additional sites in the coming weeks and months. "Foxtrot’s return is reflects what makes America special, our ability to give and support a second chance. Foxtrot was a unique retail concept that leveraged the best of specialty retail. It made mistakes and maybe was a bit too ambitious. Its return, as enunciated by Mike LaVitola, demonstrates an understanding of what went wrong,” observed Jonathan Lazarow, a mergers and acquisitions expert and founding member/co-chair of the corporate group at Reston, Va.-based boutique law firm Ambrose, Mills & Lazarow. “Who knows if Foxtrot 2.0 will soar, but the company seems to be following a playbook that plays to its strengths and open doors slowly and as they are earned. I look forward to seeing how this plays out."
