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Read the press release here.

Mrs. Green's Natural Market Cancels Streeterville Store Opening

By Lizzie Schiffman Tufano | August 29, 2014 3:36pm | Updated on September 2, 2014 8:25am
 Fox & Obel, 401 E. Illinois St., shut down unexpectedly Monday.
Fox & Obel, 401 E. Illinois St., shut down unexpectedly Monday.
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STREETERVILLE — Mrs. Green's Natural Market has canceled plans to open a second location in Streeterville in the former Fox & Obel space, the company announced Friday.
 
"We are deeply disappointed that timing and logistical obstacles will prevent us from opening in Streeterville," Pat Brown, the CEO of Mrs. Green’s Natural Market, said in a statement Friday, 

Brown said the grocery store chain, which has one Chicago location in Lincoln Park, is "continuing to identify new locations across Chicago to provide healthy living opportunities and the highest-quality all-natural and organic products."

The project was repeatedly postponed, with representatives from Mrs. Green's and its parent company, Natural Markets Food Group, citing problems with "logistical details," including construction issues, allegations a spokesman for Englewood Construction, the project's general contractor disputed.

When the store opening was postponed, Lizzie Schiffman discussed the problems on DNAinfo Radio:

Englewood Construction blamed a "leasing issue" between Mrs. Green's and the building owner for the delay.

Mrs. Green's took over the 22,000-square-foot Fox & Obel in the fall after the high-end grocery store filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, months after health inspectors shut it down after finding 200 live fruit flies and 30 live cockroaches in the store.

As construction continues on the Whole Foods replacing Dominick's at 225 E. Grand Ave., the neighborhood's only grocery options are Treasure Island at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive and a Jewel on State Street between Grand Avenue and Ohio Street.

At a recent community meeting about the planned development for 451 E. Grand Ave., neighbors asked Related Midwest President Curt Bailey to consider adding retail space on the ground floor and soliciting offers from grocery stores because Streeterville "really needs one."

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: