Chicago French Market Celebrates 1st Anniversary

CHICAGO —Chicago French Market celebrates its first anniversary – "Bon Anniversaire." Located at MetraMarket in Chicago's West Loop (131 North Clinton), Chicago French Market is a 15,000- square-foot, European-inspired market. Home to over 25 individual vendors, the Market offers an array of local and certified organic produce, meats, fresh fish and seafood, breads, pastries, small batch cheese and wine, chocolates and sweets, artisan-made goods, flowers, plus distinctive prepared meals and snacks for busy customers. Unlike seasonal outdoor farmer's markets, Chicago French Market and its vendors will stay open year-round, six days per week — the first and only market of its kind in Chicago.

The Bensidoun family, the largest market operator in Paris, and U.S. Equities Realty co-developed the market, and together operate and manage Chicago French Market, the anchor tenant within U.S. Equities' MetraMarket development. The Bensidoun family members are fourth generation market operators. In 1996, the Bensidouns decided to expand outside of Europe to develop French Markets in the United States and chose Chicago for their U.S. base of operations. The Bensidouns now operate sixteen seasonal markets in the U.S., thirteen of which are located in Chicago and area suburbs. All of the Bensidoun's markets bring a sense of local community found in the markets of Europe, and provide customers with a place to gather, socialize, purchase quality goods at reasonable prices and meet directly with knowledgeable artisans, farmers and purveyors.

"The bustling, one-stop market with individual artisans and purveyors has been a staple of life and culture for centuries in cities and towns across Europe, and was also a central feature of American communities leading up until World War II when modern supermarkets and big-box stores replaced them in most U.S. cities and towns. As a result, the vitality, choice and entrepreneurial spirit offered by these markets nearly vanished here," said market operator and co-developer Sebastien Bensidoun. "The new movement in America to support local farmers, artisans and businesses gives us an opportunity to bring the European-inspired marketplace back to life in Chicago, and provide the Chicago community with the year-round marketplace experience already found in other U.S. cities and throughout Europe."

The collective vision for Chicago French Market has helped the Bensidoun family and U.S. Equities bring together a special collection of local artisans and purveyors that will offer distinctive grab-and-go options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, light snacks, picnics, easy party planning for home and office settings, catering for area businesses and residents, fresh ingredients for cooking at home, plus meaningful gifts, all in one convenient location. Chicago French Market hosts ongoing events, seasonal celebrations and other special offerings throughout the year.

Over the past five years, the area surrounding Chicago French Market has exploded with residential and office growth and is now dramatically underserved by food, retail and entertainment options for the new inhabitants and commuters. The residential population has expanded to 41,000 within a half mile walking radius, the Central Business District (CBD) includes 500,000 office employees within a half mile walking radius and 110,000 daily rail commuter pedestrians pass through the area each day.

For more information, visit www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.