Foxtrot Set to Reopen Second Chicago Location This Thursday

Foxtrot Cafe and Market is gearing up to reopen its second Chicago location in the Old Town neighborhood this Thursday, located at 1562 N. Wells St. This comes shortly after the reopening of its Gold Coast location on September 5, following closures in April under its former parent company, Outfox Hospitality.

As part of its revival, Foxtrot has revamped its full-day food program, offering new and enhanced menu items. The updates include:

• Breakfast Tacos: Featuring braised barbacoa, grilled poblano peppers, and thick-cut pepper bacon.
• Pressed Paninis: Freshly made daily, these sandwiches use house-developed recipes and bread from La Boulangerie.
• Farm to Bowl Salads: Options like Broccoli Caesar, Greek Farro, and Seeds and Greens, with protein-based and vegetarian choices.

The reopening also promises faster service times and fresher ingredients, reflecting Foxtrot’s commitment to quality.

In addition to the food, the cafe will serve exclusive coffee blends, including The Milk Man Blend and Early Train Espresso, along with a variety of retail beans and Chicago-based consumer goods from partners like Metric and Kyoto Black.

The Old Town location will feature a front patio on Wells Street and a 600-square-foot, shaded patio with seating for up to 30 customers.

Foxtrot founder and chairman, Mike LaVitola, highlighted the brand’s ongoing evolution: “Our latest updates—from beloved gummies to hot food and coffee—continue to reflect our commitment to high-quality products with a personal touch. We are always evolving to bring our customers the very best, every day.”

To celebrate the reopening, Foxtrot will offer free coffee from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, along with complimentary samples of cookies and the new berry chai refresher. On Friday, September 20, a Happy Hour event will feature $4 local draft pours and $7 wine pours, starting at 3 p.m.

Foxtrot’s Journey to Revival

After closing all its locations in April, Foxtrot’s assets were sold to Further Point Enterprises in May for more than $2.2 million. The parent company, Outfox Hospitality, filed for bankruptcy shortly after. Further Point approached LaVitola to help revive the brand.

Under LaVitola’s guidance, Foxtrot has simplified its operations, going back to the model it used three or four years ago. The brand initially carried about 2,500 SKUs, which expanded to 5,000 over the past five years.

Foxtrot plans to revive around 10 locations, focusing on Chicago and Austin, Texas. Founded in 2014 as a delivery service for snacks, beer, and wine, Foxtrot evolved into a hybrid corner store-restaurant concept, once known as the “convenience store of the future.” Over its lifetime, the chain raised over $160 million to fuel its growth.