Business & Tech
The Fresh Market Open and Ready for Inspection
Expect impeccable order, exotic brands and friendly staff at Crystal Lake's newest grocery store.
Being among the first visitors, Ralph Dawson strolled through the produce section.
The apples and oranges at The Fresh Market, the new store in town, were stacked in a pyramid, like cannonballs ready for inspection.
“Wow!” said Dawson, a member of the Crystal Lake City Council, marvelling at the perfectly stacked fruit. “How long do you think this will last?”
Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Caryfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Dawson was among the first customers at the grocery store at 6000 Northwest Highway.
It may come as no surprise that the store manager, Brian Farley, is a military fellow.
Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Caryfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He was an M.P. in the U.S. Air Force and takes pride in “paying attention to detail.” His store was standing tall and ready for inspection Wednesday morning. The Fresh Market hired him six years ago after he was discharged from the service.
“Our goal is to keep that feel of a newly opened store for as long as we’re here,” Farley said. “The produce is looked after constantly and stacked and restacked by hand.”
He added that the orderliness of the store would be surpassed only by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff.
According to a news release, The Fresh Market has 110 locations in the U.S.
The newly opened store in has about 22,300 square feet of “culinary delights.”
The bakery on the premises produces 30 different kinds of bread and 14 different kinds of pie. The store also offers meat and seafood, 200 kinds of imported cheeses, 400 kinds of fruit and vegetables, and an organic produce section.
