Dom's Kitchen & Market Shuts Down Abruptly, Files for Bankruptcy

Dom's Kitchen & Market, a specialty grocery store chain, has abruptly closed all its stores without notice, leaving behind fully stocked shelves and vendors in a difficult situation. The parent company, Outfox Hospitality, has filed for bankruptcy, just months after Dom's merged with Foxtrot convenience markets.

Why this matters: The sudden closure of Dom's Kitchen & Market highlights the fragility of the retail industry and the potential consequences of bankruptcy on local communities. It also underscores the need for companies to prioritize responsible food management and reduce waste, especially in areas where food insecurity is a significant concern.

The sudden closures have left a significant amount of food remaining in the stores, including ready-to-go meals and sushi. The Greater Chicago Food Depository is attempting to rescue the abandoned food to help those in need, but has been unable to reach anyone from the company. "It is very hard for us to see when there is food left on the shelves especially at a time now when hunger is very persistent in the community," said Man-Yee Lee, a spokesperson for the food bank. "We are ready and able to mobilize quickly with urgency to collect food if we can get ahold of somebody from organization."

Dom's had partnered with food banks to donate surplus food, and the closure has left a big refrigerator empty at Care for Real, an Edgewater food pantry that relied on Dom's for its ready-to-go meals. With one in four Chicago-area families facing food insecurity, the situation is even more critical.

Duneyrr Brewery had a significant portion of their business tied to providing local beers to Dom's stores. "It was beers we made specially for them, like their house Pilsner," said Tyler Davis of Duneyrr Fermenta Winery and Brewery. The brewery is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, with fifty percent of the proceeds going to a fund directed at the hundreds of Dom's employees who lost their jobs without severance or benefits.

Employees of Dom's have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging that state law requires a 60-day notice for companies that employ more than 100 people. The sudden closures of Dom's Kitchen & Market have left behind a trail of food waste, financial difficulties for vendors, and hundreds of employees without jobs. As the company begins bankruptcy proceedings, the Greater Chicago Food Depository continues its efforts to rescue the abandoned food to help feed families in need during this challenging time.

Key Takeaways

• Dom's Kitchen & Market suddenly closes all stores without notice.
• Parent company Outfox Hospitality files for bankruptcy.
• Thousands of pounds of food left behind, including ready-to-go meals and sushi.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository tries to rescue abandoned food for those in need.
• Employees file class-action lawsuit, alleging 60-day notice violation.