DOWNTOWN — The healthy food kiosks that operated out of old newsstands in the Loop, named e.a.t. spots, have shut down.
"Due to the significant impact this winter has had on our business, e.a.t. spots closed all four locations after Friday, March 6th," e.a.t. spots project manager Alex Schultz said in a news release. A similar announcement was posted on the business' Facebook page.
The first stand opened at 368 W. Madison St. in August, followed by locations at 151 W. Van Buren St., 136 N. Wabash Ave. and 35 E. Madison St.
Janet Fuller says winter is tough on many small food operations:
The sunny yellow kiosks served up grab-and-go, made-that-morning items such as tofu scramble wraps and Indian-spiced roasted cauliflower.
The e.a.t. spots were the first recipients of the city's Emerging Business Permit, which allow "new, innovative businesses to launch when activities don't fall under the current license structure," according to the news release issued by the city announcing the first e.a.t spots.
Mika Stambaugh, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, said e.a.t. spots canceled permits for the four kiosks as well as a retail food license for the commissary where the food was prepared.
Stambaugh said she wasn't aware of the closures when reached by phone Friday.
It is unclear what will happen with the newsstand structures. For now, signs taped to the windows indicate the closure.
E.a.t spots founder Ken Waagner could not be reached for comment. The name stands for education, agriculture and technology.
Partners in the food stands included the workforce development agency Streetwise, which staffed the stands; organic food delivery service Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, which supplied the food, and Lifeway, a kefir company.
Chef Shaw Lash, a Frontera Grill alumnus, developed the menu.
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