Open Kitchens at Old Orchard

I just got a press release about this place, and I thought it was something potentially worth noting. It won't be opening for a while, but I imagine there are people within this group who know what's going on, who's running it, and what the potential is for delight.

Westfield Old Orchard announces leap into cutting edge culinary arena with new open kitchens and natural market concept

Mall to launch world-first dining and green specialty food shopping venue in summer 2011

The new venue will feature a wide assortment of gourmet food stations plus organic, sustainable and natural artisan specialty foods, seasonal fresh produce and other grocery items.

Anyone have any insight into this?

My insight is "opening Summer 2011; closing winter 2011."

Old Orchard's food court to be replaced by a grocery and organic eatery - http://chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010 ... court.html

From the article I get the impression it's more likely the market is organic than the restaurant area.

The food court has been torn down and vague signage about the new concept has been posted around the mall for a while. Surprised it's going to take until the summer to execute.

Cynthia wrote:I just got a press release about this place, and I thought it was something potentially worth noting. It won't be opening for a while, but I imagine there are people within this group who know what's going on, who's running it, and what the potential is for delight.

Westfield Old Orchard announces leap into cutting edge culinary arena with new open kitchens and natural market concept

Mall to launch world-first dining and green specialty food shopping venue in summer 2011

The new venue will feature a wide assortment of gourmet food stations plus organic, sustainable and natural artisan specialty foods, seasonal fresh produce and other grocery items.

Anyone have any insight into this?

It's a fancy name for remodeled food court.

Seems like they're trying to do a (more) gentrified French Market - which I would have preferred over their previous generic suburban food court. If they could have lured 8-10 of the better city places up there I would have been more impressed. Time will tell whether the overpriced seasonal produce will sell to Bloomingdale's or Nordstrom's shoppers.

Also sounds a bit like the upscale food market that was in the Glen shopping area in Glenview that didn't last long. I'm sure that Old Orchard gets a lot more foot traffic though.