A Rhode Island startup that operates an online farmers market and delivery service is opening a new retail store in Chicago to help consumers access food from local farmers year-round.
WhatsGood announced plans to open a shop in Lincoln Park that will feature things like grass-fed beef, pastured pork, free-range chicken, heritage turkeys and artisan cheeses from farms located within a three-hour drive of Chicago. The shop will have produce and other items from dozens of nearby farms, and it also will provide an opportunity for shoppers to meet local farmers and chefs.
The Lincoln Park shop will open Dec. 7, the company said.
It's the first of what the company says will be a number of Chicago stores, called Farm Shops. WhatsGood said it aims to open a shop in every Chicago neighborhood in the next two years.
The shops also serve as hubs for WhatsGoods' delivery business. The company provides on-demand delivery of its local goods that shoppers can receive in about an hour.
It's a model not unlike Chicago startup Foxtrot, which operates 10 corner stores in Chicago that function as cafes and places to grab food and everyday items. It also offers 30-minute delivery via its app.
WhatsGood has operated its online marketplace in Chicago since 2018, working with Green City Market, South Loop and other local farmers markets. The company says it has more than 30,000 users in Chicago.
