What if the city of Chicago ran the Englewood Whole Foods space instead of a grocery chain?

Advocates argue that the city runs airports and the water district — so why not a grocery store?

Whole Foods closes Englewood store after 6 years
Englewood Whole Foods one week after opening. artistmac
Whole Foods closes Englewood store after 6 years
Englewood Whole Foods one week after opening. artistmac

What if the city of Chicago ran the Englewood Whole Foods space instead of a grocery chain?

Advocates argue that the city runs airports and the water district — so why not a grocery store?

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The land that houses the Englewood Whole Foods was financed with Tax Increment Financing money, and a grocery store is required to be in the space until 2027. After the chain announced the closure of this location in late April, questions remain about what will come next. An op-ed in the Chicago Sun Times argues that it should be run by the city.

Reset checks in with the co-authors of the piece to learn more about how public groceries have worked in other cities and how it could work in Chicago.

GUESTS: Ameya Pawar, a senior fellow with the Economic Security Project and special advisor to the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab and the Academy Group, former member of city council.

Paul Williams, fellow, Jain Family Institute; founder, Center for Public Enterprise