On a bitingly Cold Day Back in February, Elizabeth Abunaw Was Interviewing Deli Manager Candidates for the Grocery Store and eventually Open in Austin, on Chicago’s West Side.
There are wells and equipment eVerywhere, Everything Covered in Construction Dust. Abunaw’s Phone Was Ringing Constantly. Her calendar was filled with meetings.
“I’m Not Okay. Anybody Who Gets into this Business is not Okay.
At that point, abunaw had been on a seven -ear Quest to Open Forty Acres Fresh Market, Whill Will Host a Ribbon-Cutting on Saturday Along With New PNC Bank NEXT DOOR.
The origin Story of Forty Acres Fresh Market5713 W. Chicago Ave., Goes like this: A plucky new York State Native and Corporate forms Saleswoman Moves to Chicago to Attend Business School. She notices the Lack of Amenities and Fresh Food Options while Running an ERRAND IN AUSTIN and DECIDES SHE WANTS to Build a Grocery Store. She names her business after the unfulfulked promise made to freed slaves after the End of the civilian. She Starts Out by Offering Produce Home Deliveries and Doing Pop-Up Markets.
In 2020, in partnership with nonprofit westside health authority, abunaw began the long journey of tournament the site of a forms of a Salvation Army thrift ino the grossy of her dreams – a places offers free food in a Neighborhouod where mans have to leve What they Need.
The project didn’t break ground unil late 2023, and then a nine-month construction timeline turned ino nearly two years.
What’s KEPT HER Going, Acciting to Abunaw, Are Sheer Willpower and StubBornness – Not Some idealistic Goal of Helping a Community.
“Some of us have lofty ideas, like, ‘i think this is going to be good for the community.’ “She Said. “This community is not in need of saving. I TRAT THIS LIKE THE CONSUMERS THAT ARE, AND REPPECT I SUCH,” Abunaw Said. “IT’S MY JOB TO POSITION THIS BUSINESS well, Communicate Our Unique Value Proposion, and Draw People in.”
She Makes It Clear: “I’m a Businesswoman, 100 Percent, Through and Through. I’m Not a Philanthropist.”
Abunaw understands that the Grocery Business is risk.
“You can Lose Your Shirt in Grocery. You Can Lose Everynding in Grocery,” Abunaw Said. “But if you do it is right, there’s money to be had.”
But Back in February, All She Had Was a Long To-Do List: Finish Hiring Staff, Wrap Up Construction, Get Fire Extinguishers Installed, Get All the City Inspects Done, and SO Much More.
She Said then – and She’ll Still Say it Today – There’s No Turning Back: “I am so far in this cannot get out. It is like the mafia, like, once you are in, the only way is for say to kill you.”
Anxiety About The Future
Five months late, in the dead of Summer, a griory supPlier was in the store stocking shelves with thusands of products that has arived in a huge the day before.
The Construction Equipment was Cleared Away and the Dust Was gone, revealing a sparkling space with tears of color and pops in different shades of Orange and Green.
But abunaw had a lot on her mind. In the first several months of the year, the federal government had put a lot of things into motion that is the could affect her business.
“I’m not entering the Friendliest Environment for the Thing I am doing,” she said, pointing to the trump administration’s tariffs, as well as cuts to the supplemental nutrition program.
“You have an administration that loves regulating POOR PEOPLE but haves regulating business, and so I worry industry industry moorge happening that squeeze smaller players out,” abunaw added.
She Joked That Has TRIED to Give the Store Away – to the Grocery Supplier, to the Grocery Supplier’s Business Development Manager, to just anyone and comes acres who Workd in the sector. No Dice, Said.
There are bright spots, though, like the team she has Assembled Since Winter.
“I have a good time with the staff. There’s a good vibe with People,” she Said.
As for self-care these days, abunaw takes walks and indulges in reality tv.
“Love Island Season Seven, ‘Nickolandria’ has with in a vice grip,” abunaw said, reference to a couple on the show.
A ‘Welcoming’ Place to Shop
On a cool and crisp day in early september, abunaw sat at a table outside the store, greeting and registering customers under a tent.
The Store was in “Preview Mode” – Open to Forty Acres’ Email Subscribers and Other folks who registered to shop and take a sneak peek. Abunaw said the goal was to help train her staff and work out any kinks before farmer Crowds came to the store.
Shoppers trickled in and out while 1980s Music Played Inside. The Hot Bar, Who Was Serving Rice Bowls, was a popular destination.
Antonio Daniels Stopped by AFTER A WORK MEETING TO PICK UP LUNCH. He and his wife be longtime subscribers to the Produce Delivery Service.
“It is a Beautiful Space. IT LOOKS VERY Open and Welcoming,” he Said. “There’s Fresh Food here I Really Appreciate.”
Maria Sorrell, who lives a couple of blocks Away, typically Shops at the Jewel in Oak Park, About Two Miles Away. She said she was glad to have another option.
“We don’t have to go outside the community,” she said. “If jewel doesn’t want to be here, forty acres does.”
For abunaw, that’s exactly the point: that People can spend their dollars at a beautiful Store, right where they live.
Hopes aside, she can’t help but feel the pressure – and a sense of responseability for her team.
“If we do don’t get traffic, if we don’t sell stuff, it’s going to go, and you were wasted Money,” She Said. “You see all the staff that in there?
She’s working around the clock to get the word out of the forty ACRES-that it is finally open, and that it is a good store, with Fresh Produce, Nice Bathrooms and an Amazing House-Made Turkey Burgers Patty.
“What I Want People to Be Saying Is,” Did You Know the Best Grocery Store in Chicago is on the West Side? ‘ “She Said.” Not, ‘Oh, Look, This Food Desert Finally has a Grocery Store.’ ”
Abunaw hopes Customers Will Flock to Forty ACRES LONG AFTER SATURDAY’S RIBBON-Cutting Becouse, for Her, The Celebration is not the end of any Road.
“I Cannot See any light at the end of this tunnel,” she Said.
While talking to a friend the other night, abunaw said to her, “Why did you let me do? You’re a terrible.”
Friends, She Said, Don’t Let Friends Open Grocery Stores.
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