St. Louis Food Hub will open Fields Foods, a full-service grocery store that will be designed to evoke a neighborly atmosphere, near the heart of historic Lafayette Square close to downtown St. Louis next year. Located at 1500 Lafayette Ave., Fields Foods is scheduled to open its doors on Jan. 4 and will bring more than 100 full- and part-time jobs to the area.
Chris Goodson and Jeffrey Randol are co-founders of both St. Louis Food Hub and Fields Foods. The store will be able to offer locally grown foods by partnering with small and medium sized farmers in the area who “actively practice sustainable methods.”
The project, which includes both Fields Foods and St. Louis Food Hub’s food distribution and processing center, will cost $15 million. Fields Foods hired two local companies, general contractor BSI Constructors and architectural firm KAI Design & Build, to work on the building. The co-founders plan to replicate their concept both locally and nationally where there is a scarcity of healthful grocery stores.
In addition to local fare, Fields Foods will sell product lines from trusted brands, including a large selection of gluten-free, organic and non-genetically modified foods. The 37,000-s.f. building features extensive retail space, a wine and beer bar and specialized sections for seafood, cheeses, meats and prepared foods.
“It’s in our nature to create healthier communities one bite at a time,” says Randol. “My partner and I have strong roots in the community, and we want Fields Foods to be an inspirational experience and culinary adventure that our neighbors will be proud to have in their own backyard.”
Randol says the concept also is designed to “attract downtown workers who need to pick up fresh or prepared foods before getting on the nearby highway and heading home.”
Fields Foods projects a $1.6 million employee payroll, which will have a $4.8 million impact on the community, the company reports. Fields Foods is part of the $120 million redevelopment of the former City Hospital site, which includes The Georgian, a residential condominium community with 105 units; The Palladium, headquarters for Butler’s Pantry caterer; The Power Plant, a multi-use entertainment and recreation facility; Walgreens; and The St. Louis Food Hub food distribution and aggregation center.
“It’s been a challenge for area residents to find fresh food options,” adds Goodson. “Now the community will have a wide array of choices and many straight from the farmer’s fields directly to our store. It’s a very positive partnership because Fields Foods will be supporting both our local farmers and our neighborhoods.”
Business hours will be seven days a week from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
