The Chicago Food Experience is now a Pop-Up Showcase

First-ever immersive pop-up experience celebrating food and Chicago 

For Immediate Release, December 13, 2022

CHICAGO – Food in Chicago has a new address: 875 N.Michigan. World Business Chicago, the City of Chicago, and the Mag Mile Association present the first-ever, in-person immersive showcase experience celebrating Chicago and its love and history of food. The Chicago Food Stop, located on the ground floor of 875 N. Michigan, features local small businesses, consumer packaged goods (CPG), unique gifts, and special programming, opens to the public on December 14, 2022.

“Chicago is proudly home to the nation’s largest food industry, as we boast the most companies headquartered here and an incredible startup ecosystem that will continue to innovate and change the future of food,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Mayor, City of Chicago, Chair, Board of Directors, World Business Chicago. “I am thrilled to welcome residents and visitors from near and far into the new Chicago Food Stop space, which will demonstrate exactly why Chicago is the ideal city for food innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“Chicagoland’s food industry is the nation’s largest, generating nearly 10 billion annually in output and employing over 65 thousand people; with innovative food related startups and venture capital driving even greater, exponential growth,” said Michael Fassnacht, President & CEO, World Business Chicago, Chief Marketing Officer, City of Chicago. “In that spirit we are proud to present the Chicago Food Stop, an immersive retail experience that pays homage to the past, present and future of food in Chicago.”

From the moment you enter, you are surrounded by a manifold of Chicago from an interactive “El” train and hanging “bean” art installation to retail displays and kiosks full of unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. Chicago Food Stop features great Chicago finds for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Among the items and activations at Chicago Food Stop, you’ll find…

• Here Here Market
  • Here Here Market is the next generation e-commerce marketplace for true food enthusiasts. At the pop-up, they’ll be selling memorable food moments with curated gift boxes, artisanal products and other culinary delights from notable and up-and-coming Chicago chefs, restaurateurs and food artisans, including more than 40 brands such as BāKIT Box, Bang Bang Pie, Carolyn’s Krisps, Caruso Provisions, Chia Leah, Heray Spice, Masa Madre, Pasta Pappone, Rumi Spice, Sydplayeat, Three Dad’s Popcorn, Tubby’s Taste, Xoca, Zeitlin’s Delicatessen, Zimt and more.
• Greater Chatham Initiative (GCI)
  • Greater Chatham  comprises Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, and Greater Grand Crossing. GCI is responsible for the revitalization and reinvestment in the Greater Chatham community. The GCI kiosk features offerings from local South Side businesses through the Greater Chatham Initiative’s Food Labs Program.

• Choose Chicago
  • Choose Chicago is Chicago’s official tourism organization, telling the story of Chicago nationally and internationally. Choose Chicago features local neighborhood businesses  and will rotate its offerings every month. Grand opening vendors include Fat Miilk, Thommy’s Toddy Shop, You’re a Cookie!, Love Cork Screw, Chocolate Uzma, Sfera Sicilian Street Food, The Scent Queens Candle Co., a.favorite design, and Big Jones.
    
• Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHAS)
  • Located in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood, CHAS equips students with skills to study agriculture at the collegiate level and beyond. This South Side high school will be on-site selling goat milk lotion, honey, soy candles, soy lip balm, reindeer planter boxes, holiday floral arrangements, and other great gift items. CHAS students will also staff the kiosk on the weekends. 

• Chicago History Museum
  • The Chicago History Museum, located in Lincoln Park, gives all Chicagoans insight into the unique past of our beloved city. At the Chicago Food Stop, the Chicago History Museum has curated a special photo exhibition from its Chicago Sun-Times photography collection. 
    

• Farmer’s Fridge
  • Farmer’s Fridge makes fresh, healthy food as accessible as a candy bar through a nationwide network of smart Fridges stocked with chef-created salads, grain bowls and snacks. Chicago Food Stop features a photo and video exhibit celebrating the story of Farmer’s Fridge over the past decade, paired with a Fridge stocked with the company’s signature menu items.

World Business Chicago, working as the lead on this pop-up, has also partnered the Chicago Food Stop with the Youth Job Center to provide a meaningful employment experience for affiliated young adults to develop skills they can build upon throughout their careers and life. 

This pop-up strategy originated out of Chicago’s recovery efforts and is supported through Chicago Recovery Funds. Chicago-based firm Show Strategy, supported by marketing firm Agency EA, led the management, fabrication, and installation of this space and established a fluid, eye-catching, and compelling space that invites guests to learn and experience Chicago’s love for food and incredible innovation. In the months ahead, the space will host special events and programming, including book signings, cooking demonstrations, and even a Valentine’s Day event for ten lucky Chicago couples. Follow World Business Chicago online and on social media for updates, special programming invites, and more.

What They’re Saying:

Lynn Osmond, President & CEO of Choose Chicago: 

“Chicago’s unique and diverse neighborhoods are key to the authenticity of our city and a huge part of the modern tourist experience in Chicago. Small businesses are what give these communities their vibrancy, and we are thrilled to bring a taste of these businesses to such an iconic location. Visitors and locals alike will now have the opportunity to experience a one-of-a-kind food and retail experience all in one place while celebrating our incredible neighborhoods.”

Glenn Charles Jr., CEO & President, Show Strategy: 

“Chicago Food Stop has been such a fruitful project for Show Strategy. Our magic is rooted in taking raw spaces from the unimaginable to a captivating experience that builds connection, and this was no different. We are rarely surprised on the outcome of a project but standing in 875 NMA three weeks later, brings us so much excitement. This year we’ve had the pleasure of working with World Business Chicago to reimagine three dynamic projects along the Mag Mile and with each, our excitement for what we do continues to grow.”

Disha Gulati, CEO & Founder, Here Here Market:

“We’re thrilled to participate in the Chicago Food Stop pop-up in collaboration with the many partners like World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago, who have supported us since our launch. At Here Here Market, our goal is to support and highlight both hometown favorites and up-and-coming culinary creators, and we look forward to introducing Michigan Avenue shoppers to many Chicago-made food products.”

Luke Saunders, Founder & CEO, Farmer’s Fridge:

“Chicago is the best place to start a food business. We’re proud to serve fresh, healthy meals to thousands of Chicagoans daily and look forward to connecting with a new audience through this unique activation.”