The store is independently owned, locally owned, and black owned. They are just about to launch a cooperative model where they are asking restaurants to buy from them since they have central purchasing and slightly above wholesale. It’s the only store like it in the area and prices are outstanding! Because they sell to local restaurants and want to provide the best quality, their food is excellent. The meat department is outstanding, and they don't have to mark up prices as high as other food markets. They have the same types of selections as the major big box chains, with unique, healthy options you might be surprised about.
Chef Robert Gadsby, who has worked in Italy, France, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong just to name a few, is Living Fresh Market’s consultant, making sure their meats are as close to prime cuts as possible. Gadsby competed on shows like Iron Chef and is opening a new restaurant in Barrington, IL this year. "The meat is so good, I would buy it for my own restaurant," boasts Gadsby. He
advises the cooks who
manage a full hot bar, deli
and seafood counter, a
bakery and explains that if
they don't offer something
you're looking for, they can
get it for you.
Bankert posted about the
shopping social event on
social media and people
showed up from near and far.
Old and young came
including Living Fresh Market
regulars. She was able to gift
one mother a fancy Yedi
bread machine and the mom
responded with grateful
tears, signed copies of her
book, and met the mother of
a young lady that she
mentored during her time
working in New York.