Foxtrot Set to Reopen River North Location on Thursday

Foxtrot Café & Market is set to reopen its highly anticipated River North store in Chicago this Thursday. The urban convenience-store chain, which had temporarily closed all of its locations in the spring, is excited to bring back its signature offerings in this key neighborhood. Following the closure, Foxtrot has successfully reopened other stores across Gold Coast, Old Town, Wicker Park, and Fulton Market.

Founder Mike LaVitola shared his enthusiasm about reopening, emphasizing the opportunity to reconnect with local vendors and rebuild the company’s relationships with small, independent businesses. “The chance to come back in, rebuild the team, and rebuild all those partnerships has been exciting,” LaVitola told CSP. “It’s nice to be so close to everything again and see the stores full of people enjoying what we’ve found.”

While Foxtrot’s leadership team has been streamlined by about 80-90%, LaVitola expressed confidence in the company’s direction. “The strategy is really clear, what’s important is really clear, and there’s a high degree of trust between all of us,” he explained. “We are together once a week, and besides that, we’re in stores all week.”

In addition to the River North reopening, Foxtrot has simplified its operations, returning to a more sustainable model from earlier years. Initially offering about 2,500 SKUs, the company expanded to 5,000 before realizing it was unsustainable. “It was very unsustainable, and I think that led to a lot of the problems,” LaVitola admitted. Now, the chain is prioritizing small vendors and currently works with around 100 vendors and a couple of hundred individual brands.

To celebrate the grand reopening, Foxtrot will offer free drip coffee on Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and a free Barbet sparkling water with any purchase on Friday, while supplies last. Additionally, the café will host happy hours on Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring $4 draft pours and $7 wine pours.

Founded in 2014, Foxtrot has evolved from a delivery service selling snacks, beer, and wine to a hybrid corner store and restaurant offering high-end goods, prepared foods, and beverages. Despite facing challenges and closures earlier in the year, Foxtrot’s return is a promising sign of resilience as the company moves forward under LaVitola’s leadership.