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The video above is from a earlier report
CHICAGO (CBS) — Whole Foods will probably be closing its retailer in Englewood in November, after saying in April that it was shutting down that location, in addition to a retailer within the DePaul University Welcome Center in Lincoln Park.
While the DePaul location closed down in May, it wasn’t till Wednesday that Whole Foods revealed a selected deadline for the Englewood retailer, which can shut on Nov. 13.
A Whole Foods spokesperson stated eligible staff on the Englewood retailer will have the ability to switch to different places if they want. Those who don’t take positions at different shops will probably be supplied severance packages.
The April announcement of the looming closure of the Englewood retailer was a serious blow for the neighborhood, which had celebrated its opening solely six years in the past, on the time bringing an finish to a meals desert within the neighborhood. Although one other grocery retailer, Go Green Community Fresh Market, opened in Englewood earlier this yr, and there may be additionally an Aldi grocery retailer on 63rd Street, the lack of Whole Foods will cut back the accessible grocery choices for the neighborhood.
“We have very, very limited access to smoothies, to fresh fruit, to a bright-lit store,” neighborhood chief Asiaha Butler of R.A.G.E. Englewood stated in April.
When the shop opened, a line wrapped across the brand-new Whole Foods, with crowds out entrance and a buyers packed inside.
As CBS 2 reported in April, the 2016 opening was an enormous deal in Englewood. The Whole Foods was first retailer of its variety on the town’s South Side – which meant one thing to a neighborhood that, on the time, was dwelling in a meals desert.
The retailer anchors a bigger business complicated on the nook of 63rd and Halsted Streets. Ahead of development of that procuring heart, the City Council voted in 2014 to spend $10 million in tax increment financing to organize the city-owned land for use for the positioning for future development, together with environmental remediation and infrastructure work. After that work was accomplished, the town offered the land to the developer of the Englewood Square procuring complicated for $1, in keeping with a spokesman for the town’s Department of Planning and Development.
At the time the Whole Foods opened in Englewood, the corporate hailed its efforts to workforce up with 35 native companies that will be offering merchandise to be offered on the retailer.
The Whole Foods in Englewood was the chain’s first retailer on the South Side of Chicago, and on the time, the corporate stated it was excited to increase to the South Side.
“We have been looking to expand further south for many years and this new store will help offer more Chicagoans fresh, high quality foods right in their neighborhood. We’re excited to work together with the city and local community long before we open our actual doors to build a custom store that meets the needs of Englewood,” stated Whole Foods regional president Michael Bashaw on the time.
Chicago Department of Planning and Development Deputy Commissioner Peter Strazzabosco stated in April that the property the place the Englewood Square Shopping Center that features Whole Foods now stands was city-owned previous to improvement. The metropolis spent $10 million to organize the land for future development.
The funding for making ready the land comes from the town’s Tax Increment Financing program, which offers a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in property tax income to tasks in designated districts throughout the town.
Strazzabosco stated Whole Foods didn’t straight obtain any TIF funds or different help from the town.
We talked to quite a few individuals actually disenchanted to listen to the shop is considered one of six Whole Foods shops closing nationwide.
“I’m shocked that they’re closing,” Orzella Denton stated in April.
“I did like the model in which they entered, but I hate the model of which they’re exiting,” Butler stated.
Once the Englewood retailer closes, Whole Foods may have solely two shops south of Madison Street in Chicago — within the South Loop and Hyde Park — with eight shops north of Madison. There are eight shops north of Madison.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued the next assertion in April on the closing of the Englewood Whole Foods:
“Amazon’s decision to close stores in Englewood and Lincoln Park as part of a nationwide closure of stores is obviously disappointing. My immediate worry is for the workers in both locations. Amazon must now take clear steps to protect those workers as they transition to new opportunities. Having been in both of those stores many times over the years, I saw first-hand how those workers gave their heart and soul to make the stores a success. Together with both communities and local elected leaders, my administration will work to repurpose these locations in a way that continues to serve the community and support the surrounding businesses. We as a city will continue to work hard to close food deserts that meet community needs with community at the table.”
DL3 Realty developed the mall. The proprietor, Leon Walker, advised CBS 2 in April that he’s optimistic they’re going to discover one other retailer to fill the Whole Foods area. He calls this a very good alternative for the neighborhood.
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