Fresh International Market opening in Schaumburg

Hi all,

Stopping in for coffee at the Starbucks at the corner of Higgins and Meacham in Schaumburg yesterday, I noticed a new sign up over the vacant Tile Shop that declared Fresh International Market would be moving into the space. Google has a couple of outside pictures related to the project, but I was unable to find a details such as an opening date.

https://g.co/kgs/RgM9xQ

This could be a welcome addition to that area of Schaumburg, as grocery options have been limited since Dominick's, in the same strip mall, closed.

Kim

Fresh International Market
1285 E Higgins Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173
http://www.freshimarket.com/

If it's related to this "Fresh International Market" in Champaign, it looks like it could have a pretty exciting selection. And food court!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/fresh-international-market-champaign

Kim3 wrote: I noticed a new sign up over the vacant Tile Shop that declared Fresh International Market would be moving into the space. Google has a couple of outside pictures related to the project, but I was unable to find a details such as an opening date.

I stopped by today hoping it might be open but it is not.

A possible bad omen is there isn't any exterior signage up anymore. There is still a sign on the inside of a front window but not on the exterior.

Sweet Willie wrote:A possible bad omen is there isn't any exterior signage up anymore. There is still a sign on the inside of a front window but not on the exterior.

stopped by today, more bad omens, various notifications (FedEx & City of Schaumburg) posted to front doors, no activity inside. Bummed as this would likely be a very welcome addition to Schaumburg.

Fresh International Market is planning on opening in 2018.
Permits, constructions, and development take some time but we are coming as soon as we can!

Fresh International Market has just recently opened in Schaumburg within the last week or so. I went today to see the store up close and was impressed by the many food stations (some still being built out) and the variety of Asian goods offered. What makes this a unique store is its Chinese owned but similar in size to Jung Boo market in Glenview with Chinese food offerings (ie BBQ Pork, BBQ Duck, Dim Sum, Milk tea station, Chinese baked good station, Chinese herb station, etc...). I also liked the modern and clean look to the store which shows the owners spent quit a bit on the design and look. The only other location in Illinois looks to be in Champaign.

Prices were reasonable on the fresh items. I also looked at the hot food bar (with many Chinese cooked food offering) was $7.99/lb.



Seasoning for 'Dry Chili Chicken'


Many pictures posted on yelp:
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fresh-i ... haumburg-2

Fresh International Market
1285 E Higgins Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173
http://www.freshimarket.com/

polster wrote:I also looked at and the hot food bar (with many Chinese cooked food offering) was $7.99/lb.

I grabbed a few items today. Some pretty pedestrian some good (chopped roast duck on the bone, also a nice fish offering). It will be very interesting to see what the food bar offerings are once they start getting some decent lunch crowds.

The grill/bbq area wasn't open yet, no date as to when it will be.

I didn't have time to look at the rest of the store.
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As noted in this thread, the building of this place has been excruciatingly slow. A week ago, we noticed it open and stopped in, it was part of a soft open. They told me the actual grand opening was May 3.

Of note, the same stand in the food court that is offering bbq is also offering Uyghur food. I saw an order of rice pilaf with lamb ribs go out and it looked pretty tasty, more Uzbek looking than Chinese.

As we were there on the 2nd day of Passover, we did not get anything, but what was on offer at the bakery looked really good.

My biggest take-away was there was all sorts of produce at insance prices, like a package of 6 Persian cukes for a dollar. It may all be a come-on or such for the soft open. Even without the deals, the range of stuff was pretty interesting.

I went back today at noon to see if the steam tables were holding more food and indeed they were. Still some pretty pedestrian looking items but some interesting, so I grab a to-go container and try to put a scoop of rice in. Solid, dry clump. Tried the fried rice, same thing. Clearly no one is really grabbing to-go items yet or if they are, no one is touching the rice. Kind of a catch 22 going on I'm sure, not enough volume yet to warrant attention to the offerings, which causes anyone interested not to come back due to poor quality, which leads to further volume decline.

I put my to-go container back and thought I'll go elsewhere for lunch, when I noticed that the Chinese BBQ counter had some items hanging in the window. Got a 1/2 roasted duck and 1/2lb of Chinese roast pork. Both were good, Sun Wah good? no, but being a 3 minute drive from my office....

Vital Information wrote:Of note, the same stand in the food court that is offering bbq is also offering Uyghur food. I saw an order of rice pilaf with lamb ribs go out and it looked pretty tasty, more Uzbek looking than Chinese.

sounds good, I'm going to have to inquire about that dish.