On May 20th, the Chicago community was left reeling when Foxtrot and Dom’s Market announced their sudden closures. The news came as a shock to many, especially to the former employees who were now left scrambling to find new jobs.
Immediately following the announcement, several employees came together to rally for their rights. Many believed that the parent company, Outfox Hospitality, may have violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Despite attempts to reach Outfox Hospitality for comment, the company could not be reached on Friday. However, the message on Dom’s Market website stated that they had explored various options to keep the business afloat but unfortunately, none were viable, despite their sincere and exhaustive efforts.
The closure of these beloved local businesses has not only affected their employees but has also caused a domino effect on other small and locally owned businesses in the Chicago area.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, this hurts. It’s really going to hurt us,” said Corey Kaplan, the owner of Corey’s Bagels. “We had a great relationship with Foxtrot and Dom’s Market. We sold them bagels, cream cheese, and our bagel chips, and it was a mutually beneficial partnership.”
Kaplan, who had been supplying Dom’s Market on a daily basis, first noticed something was amiss when they did not receive their usual purchase order on Sunday. He immediately reached out to Dom’s on Tuesday morning, only to find the doors locked. “It was a complete shock. No one knew what was happening, not even the management,” he recalls.
With both Dom’s and Foxtrot closing indefinitely, the impact goes beyond just financial losses for businesses like Corey’s Bagels. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. There must be more to the story,” Kaplan adds.
The closure of Dom’s Market deals a significant blow to Corey’s Bagels, as it was their largest account. According to Kaplan, they are now out at least $10,000, which he doubts they will ever receive. But Corey’s Bagels is not the only business affected by this sudden turn of events.
“This has had a huge effect on so many different people,” Kaplan tells NBC 5.
Despite the closure of these two beloved stores, many of the products they sold are still available at locally owned brick-and-mortar shops. Kaplan hopes that loyal customers of Dom’s Market and Foxtrot will continue to support their favorite brands by visiting the stores that supplied these products.
“Where are the people who used to shop at Dom’s Market buying their bagels now? Hopefully, they’ll come here,” says Kaplan, standing outside of his Old Town location that has been there for 23 years. “I urge everyone to come visit the small businesses that helped provide the products they loved from Dom’s and Foxtrot. Show your support for the little guy who helped you get your muffins, coffee, cookies, and cakes.”
The sudden closures of Foxtrot and Dom’s Market have left a void in the Chicago community, not just in terms of local businesses but also in the hearts of the people who loved and supported them. But this also presents an opportunity for the community to come together and support each other during these trying times. Let’s show our love for Chicago’s small businesses and help them emerge even stronger from this setback.
