Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market stores in Chicago closed abruptly on Tuesday, almost five months after announcing a merger. Signs at the locations thanked customers, marking the closure as permanent. Dom’s Kitchen & Market stated that all 33 Foxtrot stores and two Dom’s stores were shutting down, including those in Dallas, Austin, and Washington, D.C.
Despite efforts, the company found no viable option to continue operations. Foxtrot, a startup established in Chicago in 2015, expanded to Texas and Washington, D.C., after fundraising rounds. Dom’s, founded by Bob Mariano, began in Lincoln Park in 2021 and planned further expansion.
The merger of Foxtrot and Dom’s into Outfox Hospitality aimed for local and national growth but followed layoffs due to stock market issues. The sudden closure shocked employees and customers, who visited the stores for one last time. Outside the Division Street Foxtrot, customers expressed dismay, with some sharing personal connections to the stores and feeling devastated by their closure.
Foxtrot, an upscale convenience store, originated as a Chicago startup, debuting its first store in 2015 in Fulton Market, as reported by Crain’s. Through successive rounds of fundraising, the company extended its reach to Texas and Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, Dom’s, established by grocery mogul Bob Mariano, launched its inaugural store in Lincoln Park in 2021 and swiftly expanded to Old Town the following year, with ambitions to unveil 13 additional locations by 2025.
The merger announcement between Foxtrot and Dom’s emerged in late November, birthing the new entity, Outfox Hospitality, aimed at bolstering the brands’ growth both locally and nationally, as articulated by company leaders. The consolidation was prompted by Foxtrot’s layoffs following stock market turbulence, as per Crain’s.
The sudden closure on Tuesday left employees and patrons reeling, with many flocking to bid farewell to the stores, exchanging hugs and departing with mementos. Some Dom’s staff gathered outside the establishment, sharing a communal moment after learning of their job losses.
Outside the Division Street Foxtrot in Wicker Park on Tuesday morning, customers expressed dismay over the abrupt end to the chain’s operations. Bella Chapa, a devoted patron and member of the company’s loyalty program, expressed her devastation upon learning of the closure, highlighting the integral role Foxtrot played in her daily life and her decision to reside nearby for its convenience and superior offerings.
Kayla Pineda, a barista at the Wicker Park Foxtrot, expressed her shock upon receiving a morning call from her manager about the closure. She hopes to receive compensation for her remaining sick hours and intends to swiftly apply for unemployment benefits.
“Fortunately, I always keep my resume updated. But for others who solely rely on this job, those without side gigs or alternative sources of income, this is their primary livelihood,” she lamented. “It’s truly disheartening.”
In addition to store staff, there are approximately 100 full-time Outfox employees in Chicago, as reported by Eater. Despite this, no closure notices for the company appeared on the state’s WARN report, which monitors large-scale layoffs. Illinois law mandates that companies with 75 or more full-time workers provide a 60-day notice to employees in the event of mass layoffs, a requirement that remains in effect even if the company files for bankruptcy.
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