Westfield Old Orchard Announces Leap Into Cutting Edge Culinary Arena With New Open Kitchens And Natural Market Concept

The American public's and retail shopping industry's perception of food courts in shopping malls will change dramatically when Westfield Old Orchard's forthcoming open kitchens and natural market food showplace launches next year. Skokie, Illinois based Westfield Old Orchard announced plans today to develop this world-first culinary-focused dining and "green" food shopping venue which replaces the former food court, which closed on September 1, 2010 to make way for the development of the new culinary venue, with an anticipated opening in summer 2011.

During the build-out period, the construction area will be surrounded by oversized graphics displaying colorful photo illustrations and renderings of the new concept, which is the brainchild of Richtree Market Restaurants Inc., a Canadian food service firm that has created innovative restaurant and marketplace concepts in a number of Canadian shopping malls. Westfield Old Orchard's venue is envisioned as a contemporary approach to dining and food shopping that will feature a wide assortment of gourmet food stations plus a dynamic market offering organic, sustainable and natural artisan specialty foods, seasonal fresh produce and other grocery items to be enjoyed by all.

"We believe that, with its multiculturalism and well-known passion for food, Chicago is the perfect city to host our first U.S. location," said Kevin McCormack, Director of Richtree's Large Format Restaurants Concept. "The decision to choose Old Orchard was based on the mall's positioning as a flagship shopping center in the Midwest, and part of a world leading property development group. Westfield's style of combining shopping with dining set the standards in the industry, and we believe we share a similar vision. With this trendsetting concept of fresh, on-stage cooking, and the fun approach to dining out, we're looking forward to welcoming our guests, and bringing the dine-in experience at the mall to a next level of innovation."

"Our new open kitchens and natural market experience will reflect the ever-growing sophistication and culinary awareness of our customers," said Deborah Mattes, Senior General Manager of Westfield Old Orchard. "Today's Old Orchard customers are enthusiastic explorers-and enjoyers-of creative food. They seek out fresh, healthy and delicious food items and specialty products representing a variety of tastes and culinary styles. Our new venue will offer a wonderful new dine-in experience and, for customers who want to shop for items to take home, the natural market will feature organic, sustainable and natural freshly prepared foods, meat, produce, seafood and specialty items they can easily pick up without having to leave the mall. It will be a convenient, one-stop adventure. We believe the venue will also be a powerful, magnetic destination for visitors and tourists."

The open kitchens and natural market will be arranged as a casual yet sophisticated series of food stations or "kitchens," where all-natural food is freshly prepared before customers' eyes. The d�cor will be contemporary, and there will be common seating areas with both indoor and alfresco style dining. The spacious venue will cover 22,500 square feet.

As customers explore the various kitchens, they will be able to choose from a wide variety of food offerings such as seafood, pizza, fresh pasta (made on premises), fresh grill, French rotisserie, carving station, freshly smoked meats, bakery, omelets, cheese, fresh fruit juices and smoothies, sushi, oyster bar, Asian specialties, salads, desserts, pastries, gelato and coffee creations. The menus will change often (they will be presented on chalkboards), reflecting current seasonal ingredients. There will be vegetarian and g