Farmers Best Market announces grand opening

Farmers Best Market, Chicago’s only Black-owned full-service grocery, celebrates its weeklong grand opening this week, with a kick-off wine and cheese tasting at 6. p.m. Wednesday. The ceremonies will be held at the store, 1424 W. 47th Street, in th

Farmers Best Market, Chicago’s only Black-owned full-service grocery, celebrates its weeklong grand opening this week, with a kick-off wine and cheese tasting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The ceremonies will be held at the store, 1424 W. 47th Street, in the historic Back to the Yards neighborhood on the South Side, and will include performances by the Emmy-nominated women’s jazz band, KCR Ensemble. The grand opening festivities will continue through Oct. 7.

Throughout the week, customers can expect a variety of promotions, samplings, giveaways and raffles. An eclectic entertainment lineup for the store’s grand opening includes a mariachi band, comedian Lil Rel, Seneke African dance group, several popular Chicago DJs and more.

The new Farmers Best store is open daily from 7a.m.-9p.m., and carries everything from produce to dairy. It also features a service deli, hot kitchen-prepared foods and frozen goods.

Owner and CEO Karriem Beyah, the only African American grocer in the city, wants Farmers Best Market to be seen as the neighborhood store where people can get everything they need, knowing they’re getting quality.

“This is where a consumer can go and get things like fresh lettuce, fresh apples, fresh meats…rather than going somewhere else and getting a substandard product,” he said.

“Farmers Best Market is the only grocery store that can claim a three-day turnaround on greens from the field to the store, something that big-ticket vendors can’t do,” Beyah said.

Also, coolers are built with a specific capacity for the meats delivered daily, so cuts are guaranteed fresh, he said.

The store’s location provides convenience to residents of several racial and ethnic groups. Beyah seeks to embrace that diversity, working hard to ensure that everyone can get what they need from Farmers Best Market.

“The store itself also offers a solution to the problem of inadequate access to fresh foods that affects many areas throughout the city,” Beyah said.