Pete's Fresh Market on Western + Madison = Now Open

As a Food Shopper who NEVER goes to one grocery store, for everything I need-
I was certainly impressed by the new Pete's Fresh Market that opened today.

Demographically sited between two growing Chicago neighborhoods- one to the south (Tri-Taylor)
and one the east (West Loop/United Center) and- smack in the middle of a true "food desert" on
Chicago's West Side- this store will be (I predict) a HUGE success for their chain- and for the surrounding neighborhood.

Let me begin with what they DO HAVE!
A liquor section w/ Craft Beers that you can purchase by a mix-your-own Six-Pack. Balvenie Single Malt Scotch- not only The Double Wood. A Taqueria w/ a Trompe-spinning-Pineaple-Topped-Al-Pastor (3 for $5.99).
A Salad bar that rival Mariano's @ 6.99 lb. A hot foods section. A Lavazza Coffee bar.
Fresh baked breads, from Marble Rye & Pumpernickel, (that they will eventually be selling by-the-slice.)
to Sourdough baguettes.
The meat section had lots of Lamb- homemade sausages- Carne Asada for Tacos- pre-chopped and seasoned, Inner and Outer Skirt Steak......House Brand Hot Links, and lots of other nicely presented meat.
The deli has Kabonosky (2 types)- a thin Keilbasa that I normally purchase @ Kurowski's Sausage Shop on Milwaukee Avenue.
Soprasetta as well as Prosicuuto.

When I asked "Pete" the manager (who happens to be the son of the original "Pete" ) if they carried Walkerswood Jamaican Jerk seasoning paste- he said they do- OMG- they have the entire Walkerswood line- as well as a huge Caribbean Spice section w/ about 5 other Jerk marinades.
Couldn't find the Green Peppercorn Mustard I like. Couldn't find the Roland (or any other brands) Caperberries (the almond-sized ones) that we like to serve w/ cocktails.
The produce section has not only Broccolini- but Broccoli Rabe. The variety of washed organic greens-from baby arugula to spicy mustard greens was impressive.
There's a fresh Juice Bar.
In the seafood area- any frozen,breaded fish,clam,scallop they display- they will fry-on-demand for you.
Fresh Marlin in the seafood section.

All in all- very impressive.
Not as diverse a World Food seller as my favorite Fresh Farms on Touhy is......not as cheap as Jimenez or Cermack Produce-
but go and see for yourself- how clean, and diverse a product line they carry.

Pete'e Fresh Market- Welcome to The West Side!




2333 W. Madison St.
Chicago IL.60612
http://www.petesfresh.com/stores
7AM - 10PM Daily

Thanks for the report. Can't wait for the Oak Park Pete's to open.

Overheard today in the Produce Section today:

......"Man- this store's pretty amazing.............
especially, for
this neighborhood",
......
to which I interjected-
"Ya mean for ANY neighborhood.- They've got stuff here that they don't even have at Whole Paycheck!!"

Todays special find in the Meat Section- Rib Tips- marinated in house w/ Jerk Sauce- for $2.99 lb,
perfect for grilling on skewers!
Yummm!!!

And- as always- "samples" in the deli section as well as another "discovery"- Chicken Kabonosky Polish Sausage
@ $5.99 lb.
An amazing International Store- in any ZipCode- but especially here- on the West Side!

Finally checked this place out yesterday, and I was really impressed with how nice it was (and how pleasantly uncrowded it was at 4 PM on a Thursday). A vast produce selection was expected, and they delivered. Prices were very reasonable if not quite as low as my usual go-to, Caputo's in Elmwood Park.

I tend to judge a new grocery store on its mustard selection, and Pete's is one of the best I've seen (and the only one I can recall that carries Beaver mustard products).

@ndgbucktown-

I tend to judge a new grocery store on its mustard selection, and Pete's is one of the best I've seen

then look no further than the wonderful Green Peppercorn Mustard they now carry-
(at my request Thank You!) the super fresh and tasty on by Edmond Fallot- Moutarde Au Poirve Vert
http://www.fallot.com that will enliven any charcuterie board- makes an AMAZING Vinaigrette Salad Dressing-
and, will upgrade any Ham Sammy you can make- I'm certain-
if slathered on any fowl you care to roast- will be a go to classic!

In the past, I'd see this @ Treasure Island, then maybe at Fresh Farms in Niles, or via AMAZON- but no longer do I need to "schlep" all over Chicagoland to find what I like- it's all there @ Pete's.

As a side note about THIS PARTICULAR store- I wandered into another, older Pete's Fresh Market on Cermack (22nd Street) @ Rockwell, and discovered how truly unique this store is.
From the Store layout (very much like a Jewel or Dominicks,or A & P, or Kroger ,or...)- to the product selection, not as diverse-
to the bakery (The Cermack Store was much more Latino-centric than the new one on Western/Madison) I am even more impressed by the FRESH creative approach they put into the stores appearance,layout and management.

Speaking of Management- be sure to seek out "SEAN" at the new Pete's on Western Ave- a Manager w/ serious depth of experience- and more importantly, an Book-lover-Intellect, who's day-to-day observations of Commerce, Freakonomics, and Military History are unsurpassed in any Grocery Store Manager I have ever encountered.
Sean is-one of Chicago's VERY OWN!