Skokie, Ill.’s Westfield Old Orchard Mall is the site of the new Wilde & Greene Restaurant + Natural Market, the U.S.’s first one-stop restaurant and organic market from Toronto-based Richtree Market Restaurants Inc., which operates six restaurants in Canada.
The 29,000-square-foot space includes a 6,000-square-foot natural market, offering a wide selection of 100 percent organic produce, restaurant-quality natural meals, healthy deli assortments, vitamins, body care and grocery items, including some locally sourced products. The market will employ 40-45 people.
Alongside the market is a 17,000-square-foot restaurant, which features 18 open-kitchen-style gourmet food and beverage stations, offering sustainable and natural artisan specialty foods, seasonal fresh produce, meats, seafood and other food items, prepared right in front of customers. Among the stations are those serving sandwiches, pasta, baked good, crepes and waffles, sushi, Mexican fare, individual pizzas and gelato, all of which are handmade on-site. Instead of paper menus, the restaurant uses LCD screens and chalkboards to display selections, which are subject to change. The facility has seating for 500 guests, both indoors and outdoors, and is available for private parties. It will employ 200-250 cooks.
Upstairs, the North Shore's first rooftop patio features small plates and a full-service bar, plus outdoor seating for 140 patrons. The 6,000-square-foot space is available for private parties, too.
Wilde & Green held a soft opening on July 25 and will celebrate its grand opening on Sept. 8. Although the retailer currently is operating on limited hours, eventually, the restaurant and natural market hours will be 7:30 a.m. to midnight, while the rooftop will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
