POST MARKETPLACE is a transformative food, beverage and retail economic development that will serve as a bridge between start up entrepreneurship, entertainment & revitalization.

The world is changing. Retail is changing. Starting a small business means disrupting the current status quo. To succeed in today’s market, new businesses will need opportunities to test the market, learn the skills to operate profitably, to adapt quickly and affordably. The forging of public and private partnerships will drive new markets through impact investing and incubating new ideas.
Visit the Post Marketplace Website

Looking for more info?

Check out our PDF presentation for more in-depth information.
(verb) 1. to give new vitality or vigor; 
2. to give new life; 
3. the act or an instance of bringing something back to life & public attention.

A Look Inside

The Shared Resource Center and Food Ecosphere
Facility 1- Waukegan
  • Aquaponic/Urban Farm site to support programs related to Farm-to-School programing with several local school systems (operated in partnership with Growing Healthy People).
  • Local Food Pantry site.
  • Shared storage, office, loading/unloading, and possible event/public-facing spaces.
(Click to enlarge)
Facility 2- North Chicago
  • Food Hub/Storage Warehouse for local product aggregation (distribution hub).
  • 2,000 square foot Grocery/Market space.
  • Food Hall Stalls (supporting up to 4 local businesses/pop-ups)
  • Shared Kitchen (shared back of house support for other components) + public-facing demo kitchen with full A/V technology supports
  • Shared storage, office, loading/unloading, and event/public-facing spaces.
(Click to enlarge)
The Food Hub and Post Market will be fueled by the Aquaponic Farm and other local resources.
These businesses and programs provide more access points for the neighboring community.

Post Cafe

Post Pantry

Shared Kitchen

Food Hub

The Market

Post Cafe
Post Pantry
Shared Kitchen
Food Hub
The Market

Post Cafe

The first Food Hall in Lake County, The Post Cafe will feature a variety of unique restaurateurs offering everything from sit down white-linen table cloth, upscale dining experiences to urban street foods.  Food proprietors range from chef-driven concepts to relatively unknown start-ups. While very few Food Halls exist in suburban Chicago counties, many Lake County residents are very familiar with The French Market on the ground floor of Ogilvie transportation center in Downtown Chicago or Revival Food Hall downtown.  Both are successful Food Halls in downtown Urban settings.  Adelante is bringing this urban upscale foodie concept to Lake County through The Post Cafe.

Post pantry

Food pantries receive valuable donations but also purchase food, box it, and distribute it to residents.  Donations from food banks often contain limited healthy or fresh options in favor of more shelf stable (often high salt) products.  Residents can be constrained by lack of transportation, limited options for elderly/disabled, or diet restrictions.  Little direct communication occurs with patrons so no additional services are offered.  Pantries also typically operate during limited hours/days and needy clients don’t know how to use the donated food to prepare a complete meal.  Our Post Pantry will provide balanced food boxes that meet their specific needs but overcome greater barriers to accessing food. Post Pantry’s online ordering and delivery makes getting access to delicious, nutrient-rich meals accessible to everyone.

shared kitchen

Shared kitchens are licensed commercial spaces that provide a pathway for food entrepreneurs— ranging from chefs, caterers, food truck operators, and bakers, to value added producers and packaged food and beverage makers—to launch and grow their businesses. By renting space in a shared kitchen on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis, businesses can produce food in compliance with regulatory requirements without needing to invest in their own facility during a stage when capital and cash flow are a challenge. In addition, our kitchen will provide cooking classes and a culinary medicine curriculum that teaches how to use the healthy foods provided throughout The Post Marketplace including The Post Pantry and the Farm to School program. By providing entrepreneurs, producers, and food access programs with affordable space, shared kitchens can help strengthen local food systems and build community prosperity. Future Lake County food businesses can test their concepts in the marketplace before risking the upfront capital investment typically required.

food hub

Food Hubs provide a centrally located facility with a business management structure that facilitates aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing of locally and regionally produced food products. One key goal is to give small and medium-sized food producers access to larger additional markets to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand. Our Food Hub will contain artisanal food vendors selling items like gourmet meats and cheeses, bakery goods, chocolates, artisan breads, gourmet pastas etc. We will also offer unique culinary offerings like vegan or vegetarian as well as lifestyle brands. If you know a local food business that might be interested in being part of the Food Hub, connect with us and we’ll follow up.

the market

The Post Grocery/Market will be the only retail store carrying premium grocery and home products in the far Northeastern corner of Illinois. From our planned location in North Chicago, IL, The Post Market will serve consumers seeking high quality food, beverage, personal care, and home care items but not wanting to drive 9 miles or more to the next closest premium grocery store. The market will carry a variety of products from trusted brands that are unique and, whenever possible, contain organic/all-natural ingredients and environmentally friendly/sustainable materials.
Visit the Post Marketplace Website

Economic Impact

0

New Annual Visitors 

0+

New Jobs 

$0

annual revenue

Get Involved

Stay up-to-date on our latest news, volunteer opportunities, and more.
Adelante Center for Entrepreneurship
420 West Clayton Street
Waukegan, IL 60085

contact@adelantecenter.org
​224.656.5950
GuideStar Exchange Bronze Participant
 Adelante Center for Entrepreneurship is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit program focused on creating wealth and jobs in communities with economic challenges.

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.