Whole Foods To Close Englewood Store Six Years After $10M Tax Break

CHICAGO — The Whole Foods that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel lured to an Englewood strip mall built with $10 million in taxpayer cash is closing after just six years.

The organic grocery chain has announced it will close the store at 63rd and Halsted Streets, which was hailed as a victory for a South Side food desert, and five others nationwide, including a store at the DePaul University Welcome Center.

"As we continue to position Whole Foods Market for long-term success, we regularly evaluate the performance and growth potential of each of our stores, and we have made the difficult decision to close six stores. We are supporting impacted Team Members through this transition and expect that all interested, eligible Team Members will find positions at our other locations," a Whole Foods spokesperson said.

The news of the Englewood location's pending shutdown comes ironically two days after Whole Foods announced the grand opening of a new 65,956-square-foot store at the "One Chicago"
high-rise at State Street and Chicago Avenue in the posh Gold Coast neighborhood.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the decision to close two stores in Chicago "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," Lightfoot said in a statement.