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Fresh Thyme Grocery, Fox Ford Dealership, Plan Fall Openings Along Elston

By Alisa Hauser | July 20, 2015 8:44am
 Fresh Thyme, 2500 N. Elston Ave.
Fresh Thyme Grocery Store
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BUCKTOWN — A shopping stretch just west of the Chicago River on the border of Lincoln Park and Bucktown will be getting a mostly organic discount grocery store as well as a Ford dealership, both set to open in October.

Located in a former TigerDirect computer supply store at 2500 N. Elston Ave., the 28,630-square-foot future Fresh Thyme is under construction, along with a new massive Fox Ford car dealership, directly across the way at 2501 N. Elston Ave.Rendering of what Fresh Thyme is calling their Lincoln Park store, 2500 N. Elston Ave. (Provided)

Both sites are just north of the Damen, Elston and Fullerton intersection which is undergoing a major makeover to reroute Elston and improve traffic congestion and safety at the oft-clogged area.   The estimated $60 million project began last month and will not be complete until next November.

Alisa Hauser says the busy intersection is already clogged with traffic:

Based in Downers Grove, Fresh Thyme is a fast-expanding chain backed by Meijer executives who plan to open 50 stores in the Midwest within the next six years, Crain's reported.

In June, after opening a new Joliet outpost, the chain tweeted, "Another 44 to go."

Fresh Thyme CEO Chris Sherrell told Crain's that the location was selected due to the area's high density.

“One main thing we looked at is just the rooftops, and population-wise this is probably our highest density (location) of all the stores we've signed to date," Sherrell told Crain's.

According to its website, Fresh Thyme sells mostly fruits and vegetables, "much of it organic," along with barrels of natural and organic bulk foods, breads and locally roasted organic coffee beans.

A spokesman said on Friday that the new Fresh Thyme will bring around 100 jobs to the area.  Fresh Thyme is hiring for full, part-time and manager positions, according to its Facebook page. Applicants can apply online.

Fresh Thyme's first Chicago store will face some competition in an area that offers plenty of grocery options within a few miles.  Six other nearby stores include Strack & Van Til, 2627 N. Elston Ave; Jewel, 2550 N. Clybourn; Mariano's;  2112 N. Ashland Ave.;  Aldi, 1767 N. Milwaukee Ave., Stanley's Fruits and Vegetables, 1558 N. Elston Ave. and the newly opened Local Foods, 1427 W. Willow St.

A Fox Ford dealership at 2501 N. Elston Ave., planning to open by October.  (DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser)

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