Arlington Heights’ Urban Harvest closing shop Sept. 30

Urban Harvest, a gourmet food boutique that has been a fixture in downtown Arlington Heights for 11 years, will close Friday, Sept. 30, owner Mary Ellen Hogan has announced.

Hogan will take a “dream job” with Terlato Wines International, a wine marketing company in Lake Bluff.

“Urban Harvest let me be a stay-at-home mom for 11 years,” Hogan said Monday. “The kids came here after school every day. It’s about three blocks from home.

“But now my oldest is heading to college, and this next level is good for our family in a different way.”

Hogan said she is sad about closing the business at 15 S. Dunton Ave., but the lease was up, and she needed to make a decision about closing or renewing for three years.

“I have my tears,” she said. “This shop is my dream, and it has exceeded my dreams, but I knew when I started the business that it would not be for the rest of my life.”

Village President Arlene Mulder said Urban Harvest is one of her favorite shops where she can buy black linguine and the cheeses her family likes.

“Urban Harvest is one of the most innovative stores that captured the sense of the entire redevelopment of downtown Arlington Heights,” Mulder said.

Hogan investigated selling the business, but decided “I am Urban Harvest and as bad as I feel closing it, it would be worse if I sold it and it didn’t succeed.”

The employees are all part time, and Hogan said she is helping them find other opportunities — such as opening a catering business.

“I haven’t left Arlington Heights in 11 years; it will be nice to see another suburb,” she said.