December 2, 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Join Eataly Leadership to Mark Opening of Eataly Chicago

Largest Eataly in the United States Opens Today

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Today Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti and world renowned chef Mario Batali today to mark the opening of Eataly Chicago in the River North neighborhood. Eataly is a two floor, 63,000 square foot Italian food and drink emporium offering in-house restaurants as well as fresh gourmet groceries. Eataly Chicago is expected to bring 650 jobs to Chicago and quickly become one of the city’s premier culinary destinations. The location will be Eataly’s largest location in the United States.

“Eataly’s launch here in Chicago’s downtown is a testament to our city’s status as a world-class food destination,” said Mayor Emanuel. “As Eataly becomes a part of our city’s cultural fabric, it will enrich our already first-rate culinary offerings while supporting Chicago’s economic growth and employing hundreds of Chicagoans.”

“The city of Chicago boasts such a great food culture; we are very excited about this new opening,” Oscar Farinetti, founder of Eataly comments. “The store is gorgeous and we hope Chicagoans will love it just as much as we do.”

Eataly Chicago’s offerings span two floors, and include eight in-house restaurants, a high end marketplace for fresh Italian groceries and housewares, a Nutella stand, a wine and cocktail bar, and a coffee bar. In all, the space houses 23 dining options. In addition, Eataly Chicago has agreed to work with City Colleges of Chicago’s successful College to Careers program at Kennedy King College, a cutting edge program which connects culinary and hospitality students with industry leaders to give them the skills necessary to enter the 21st century job market.

The new culinary destination follows the success of Eataly New York, which opened in 2010 and has since become a major tourist attraction in New York City. Chicago’s new location is 30% larger than New York’s. Eataly was founded in 2007 in Turin, Italy and has since established multiple locations throughout Italy and Japan.

Eataly USA has also recently started a blog, The Eataly Diaries (blog.eataly.com), and an official Eataly Chicago Facebook Page (facebook.com/EatalyChicago) for guests to follow as the countdown to the opening starts. Located in Macerich’s The Shops at North Bridge in the heart of the famed Michigan Avenue District, Eataly Chicago will be the ultimate culinary destination for Chicagoans, out-of-towners, epicureans and Italophiles.

Mayor Emanuel was also joined by the other investors in Eataly -- Lidia and Joe Bastianich, and Adam and Alex Saper.

The facility will open at 4 pm on December 2, 2013.


# # #