'A New beginning': Foxtrot reopens on Near North Side after abruptly closing in April

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After closing dozens of stores across the country last spring, the owners of Foxtrot reopened their first store on the Gold Coast on Thursday.

The line to pay at the Gold Coast Foxtrot was nonstop on its grand reopening, with new and returning customers.

"I love all the Foxtrot locations. I love the layout. I think it's super nice, cozy, open," customer Amanda Madden said.

It's been five months since Foxtrot fans have been able browse the shelves of their favorite upscale convenience store and coffee shop, but for fans like Madden, it feels like no time has passed at all.

"I feel like it was frozen in time...it really seems like not much has changed. Some of the prices went up, is one of the things we've noticed."

Madden says though she's excited for Foxtrot's return, she has some mixed feelings, too. After the abrupt closure of dozens of stores nationwide resulted in almost a thousand job losses.

"The fact that it's under new management makes me feel a bit better about it."

The company that's taken over Foxtrot is led by the chain's founder, Mike LaVitola. He says he feels for those who lost their jobs without warning.

"It's awful and it's sad and I think they know, we've reached out to all of them. They have a spot back on our teams. And we've been happy to welcome several of them back and as we continue to open up stores, we hope we get to welcome more of them back."

LaVitola said this is an opportunity for a fresh start.

"It feels so good to have our team back, our vendors back in the space, and customers starting their day with us again after a really tough year. This feels like a new beginning, and it's really, really exciting."

La Vitola said the Old Town location is set to reopen later this month.

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