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Italian mega-store will bring jobs, wine to River North
By Steven Dahlman
(Left) Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (left in photo) and Chef Mario Batali speak before the grand opening on Monday of Eataly, an Italian food and drink emporium that Batali co-owns.
December 2, 2013 – With the cut of a ribbon of pasta, River North gained its first Italian food and drink mega-store on Monday as “Eataly” officially opened on East Ohio Street.
“This is a horrible place to start your Thanksgiving diet,” quipped Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Speaking to Oscar Farinetti, who founded Eataly in Turin in 2007, the mayor called Farinetti’s store “a testament to your dreams.”
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“You’re in the city…of big shoulders where you do big things,” said Emanuel. “You’re also in the culinary capital of America. So I want to welcome you home as a member of the family.”
The two-story, 63,000 square foot “Italian food and drink emporium” claims 23 dining options, including eight restaurants, a wine and cocktail bar, and a coffee bar. Fresh gourmet groceries and housewares will also be sold.
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Eataly now has 17 locations worldwide, including two in the United States. The Chicago location is 30 percent bigger than the Eataly in New York.
The space was previously occupied by ESPN Zone, a sports-themed restaurant that closed in 2010 after 12 years in business.
According to a news release from the mayor’s office on Monday, Eataly is expected to bring 650 jobs to Chicago “and quickly become one of the city’s premier culinary destinations.”
(Right) Invited guests enjoy a preview of Eataly treats on Monday before the official opening at 4 p.m.
(Below) More images from the second floor of Eataly (click to view larger versions).
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