Oasis Opens in Chicago’s Food Desert

Fresh Family Foods, a unique grocery store concept located in one of Chicago’s most notorious food deserts, planned to celebrate its grand opening Thursday.

Located across from Chicago State University, Fresh Family Foods is the brainchild of Chicago restaurateur Quentin Love, creator of the “no beef, no pork” Quench chain of restaurants. Love and co-owner Dianna Wiley have teamed up with LaDonna Redmond, a longtime advocate of agricultural co-ops and healthy food choices in minority communities, to develop a boutique-style grocery offering fresh produce, a juice and coffee bar, and freshly prepared hot meals.

Patrons will find a fresh selection of produce and be able to order from the full Quench menu inside the store, which includes limited seating for in-store dining.

“Our vision for Fresh Family Foods was to be an alternative to stores in minority communities that have traditionally charged two or three times the price for stale food and unattractive produce,” Love said. “Research shows that African Americans have suffered disproportionately from heart disease and diabetes as a direct result of the poor food choices that are available to them close to home.”

Chicago State students will enjoy a 25 percent discount on Quench menu items inside the store. Patrons will be able to access pastry selections from another South Side eatery, Brown Sugar Bakery, part of Love’s umbrella company, the I Love Food Group, and freshly popped buttered, cheese and caramel Poptime popcorn.

Fresh Family Foods is the only black-owned grocery in Illinois. It will not sell tobacco products or alcoholic beverages.