Fresh Market opens in Lincoln Park, taking over the former Dom's Kitchen & Market

Lincoln Park resident Kenny Ho often visited Dom’s Kitchen & Market on the corner of Diversey Parkway and Halsted Street.

But earlier this year, all Dom locations in Chicago closed abruptly. Shortly afterwards, Outfox Hospitality – founded last year after the merger of Dom’s and Foxtrot – founded has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

“People were just disappointed,” Ho said. “This was about the only supermarket in the area that was just convenient.”

Kenny Ho purchases cooking oil on opening day of The Fresh Market in Lincoln Park, Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

So when a new grocer took over Dom’s old storefront on Wednesday, Ho was one of the first to see the offer, along with his girlfriend.

The Fresh Market, a national grocery chain, opened its new site in Lincoln Park at 8 a.m., with many residents already gathered outside. The first shoppers were greeted by a violinist playing music at the entrance and the first 500 customers received a reusable shopping bag.

Fresh Market Zone Vice President Melonie Petty said this is the company’s first store in Chicago. The grocer also has locations in Crystal Lake, Geneva, Lake Forest and Wilmette, with one opening soon in Naperville.

“Because of the location that was here before, we knew the community needed to have the convenience of coming here,” she said.

The high turnout at the store’s opening reflects that need, Petty said.

Inside, the supermarket offered prepared food stations, a café and a full-service bar. There was a queue outside the coffee bar, which serves cocktails in the evening. And despite the early opening, some customers already tried the hot food, such as pizza and smash burgers, as well as chicken salads.

Many customers also had their phones out to take videos and photos of the new store.

Akie Kadota lifts a bag of groceries she just paid for at The Fresh Market in Lincoln Park.

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Pat Nabong/Sun Times

Customers browse the cheese section of The Fresh Market.

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Pat Nabong/Sun Times

Hot dishes such as fried chicken are available to customers, as well as other prepared dishes.

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Pat Nabong/Sun Times

The Fresh Market’s food counter in the center of the store features bowls of ready-made salads and hot meals.

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Pat Nabong/Sun Times

Customers queue for coffee and pastries at The Fresh Market’s cafe.

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Pat Nabong/Sun Times

During the opening ceremony, The Fresh Market presented a $2,000 donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. While all Fresh Market locations make donations to the food bank, the Lincoln Park location will be the second to participate in the depot’s Food Rescue program, which helps reduce food waste and converts it into donations.

“Every location matters, every bit of food matters,” said Faith Stachnik, Food Rescue Retail Engagement Manager at the Food Depository. “The need is getting bigger and bigger every day.”

Stachnik said The Fresh Market’s financial donation will provide 3,000 meals.

On Thursday, chef Carla Hall, who has appeared on Bravo’s competition show Top Chef and on Food Network shows, will be in the store to offer samples of her Sweet Heritage butter tarts. Giveaways are also offered, such as tickets to the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the James M. Nederlander Theater and sweet treats.

Jason Potter, CEO of The Fresh Market, said the operations are all about connecting the business with the community.

“I like it, and we hope the guests like it too,” he said. “It’s something fun that we’re trying to create, a guest experience… to make sure people understand that we’re part of Chicago.”

Kate Schimberg, who lives downtown, said she often travels to The Fresh Market’s Wilmette location because she is such a fan of their products. Now that she has a location about ten minutes away, she plans to visit regularly.

“It’s a quality store,” she says. “Some of their ready-made dishes are fantastic… things are a little pricey, but that comes with the territory.”

Customers drink coffee on opening day of The Fresh Market store in Lincoln Park, which took over the former Dom's Kitchen & Market. There are tables and chairs, as well as bar stools, in the center of the room, which is surrounded by large windows and a skylight. — Customers drink coffee on opening day of The Fresh Market store in Lincoln Park, which took over the former Dom’s Kitchen & Market.