The Fresh Market store to close in Naperville

The Fresh Market grocery chain is closing its Naperville store in Westridge Court, but the shopping center’s owner is touting the adjacent Block 59 development as it moves to find a replacement tenant.

Brixmor Property Group has been transforming the northeast corner of Route 59 and Aurora Avenue into a new dining and entertainment district with a succession of restaurant openings and a seasonal addition — an outdoor ice skating rink — set to be unveiled next month.

Rich Dippolito, vice president of redevelopment, expressed disappointment at the loss of the grocer. However, Brixmor is hoping to capitalize on the momentum with Block 59 coming online.

“The vast majority of property we own is grocery-anchored. So we always like having a grocer as one of the components of our shopping centers. So that would be ideal, but it's still too early to tell,” Dippolito said.

A spokesperson at The Fresh Market said the store’s final day is contingent on when it sells through the inventory. The store is currently running a 25% site-wide sale on all items excluding liquor and gift cards.

“The decision to close was a difficult one but was made after careful consideration and analysis of our current store portfolio,”the spokesperson said in a statement. “While it is unfortunate we are closing our Naperville store, the greater Chicago area remains a growth area for us.”

Algonquin welcomed The Fresh Market, a chain with roots in North Carolina, earlier this year. Another store will be opening in Chicago, at 1233 North Wells St., in early December.

In Naperville, Brixmor demolished much of the former Heritage Square shopping center — over 200,000 square feet, Dippolito said — to make way for the new project adjacent to Westridge Court, which includes the Hollywood Palms Cinema.

“We've really integrated the two shopping centers so they have much better flow,” Dippolito said. “The properties work better together, and they play off of each other a lot better. There's a lot of retail within Westridge Court and a lot of restaurants within Block 59.”

Piccolo Buco, a concept from Cooper’s Hawk and Chef Luca Issa, owner of the original pizzeria in Rome, has joined the restaurant roster at Block 59. It’s already home to The Cheesecake Factory, brunch spot First Watch, Shake Shack and Stan's Donuts.

“We're getting tremendous feedback. The community is thrilled. And each time we open a new restaurant, they have a really great opening and continue to have a lot of traffic,” Dippolito said.

The 60-by-120-foot outdoor ice skating rink is opening Nov. 20. More fast-casual restaurants — Crisp & Green and Velvet Taco — also are expected to open in November.

“It's going to be an eventful month,” Dippolito said.