MOM’s Organic Market making push into suburban market
A Northeast Mid-Atlantic independent organic grocer is extending its footprint into the Chicago suburbs.
MOM’s Organic Market has signed leases in Mount Prospect and Naperville, officials from the grocer confirmed.
The 15,000-square-foot Mount Prospect location is opening in late summer at the old Northern Tool location at 201 W. Rand Road in the Randhurst Commons Shopping Center.
The 11,700-square-foot store at 1163 E. Ogden Ave. in the Iroquois Center in Naperville is slated to open in the fall.
MOM’s boasts high-quality 100% organic produce, curated local products and a stress-free shopping experience.
Each store is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring renewable energy, waste reduction initiatives, such as annual denim and holiday light recycling drives and recycling centers that go beyond bottles and cans — accepting items like cellphones, tablets, eyeglasses and corks.
Each new location also will feature products from local vendors and will partner with community environmental organizations to help clean up neighborhood waterways.
MOM’s Organic Market was founded in 1987 by Scott Nash in his mother’s garage with an initial investment of $100. It has grown since to 27 stores across the Northeast Mid-Atlantic region, with stores in Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York and Massachusetts.
“It’s a pushcart shopping experience grocery,” Nash said. “We’ve got tens of thousands of items. We’re sort of a cross between Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.”
Whereas Whole Foods often is 50,000 or 60,000 square feet and Trader Joe’s typically is 10,000 square feet, Nash said MOM’s is in between and, at around 15,000 square feet, closer to Trader Joe’s in size.
He said the store offers “amazing produce” that is high-quality and organic.
“We have many items that you can’t find anywhere else,” he said.
It’s sales flyer includes such items as 88 Acres seed and oat bars, Amy’s organic chili, Annie’s homegrown organic vegan pasta and Grandy’s Organics products, including organic granola and coconola.
The store is serious about its environmental commitment. In 2005, MOM’s stopped using plastic bags and in 2010 removed unnecessary plastic waste from its stores. In addition, it banned bottled still water.
Mount Prospect Community Development Director Jason Shallcross said the village is excited to fill the former Northern Tool space, located near The Picklr, the center’s indoor pickleball facility.
“We’re happy that we have another great retailer going in there,” he said. “We’re hopeful it’s successful.”