The long-awaited Lemon Tree Grocer opened its doors Aug. 13 in anticipation of its grand opening Friday, August 20.
Unable to wait for the official launch, we took the opportunity to scope out the place at closing time Saturday night. And we liked what we saw (and what we purchased).
The store reminds me of a big-city specialty grocer: compact, visually pleasing and with lots of goodies artfully arranged in a compact space. There’s a fresh meat and fish counter, a very nice and competitively priced produce section, really good wine (including chilled whites) and liquor choices (Limoncello!), a nice cheese selection, plus a coffee bar.
The prepared foods department was closed by the time we got there, but I managed to snag some grilled asparagus and roasted vegetables — very nice. I noticed a lobster roll on the menu, which I would have liked to enjoy with a glass of wine at one of the outdoor tables. Maybe next time.
The store’s staffers (full disclosure: my kid is a part-timer there) are welcoming and knowledgeable. On the recommendation of Dennis, we bought a couple of bottles of wine, as well as a block of cheddar cheese, plus some whole wheat croccantini crackers and grapes to accompany it. Not a bad (late) evening repast.
(We weren’t alone in our positive response to the Lemon Tree. Wine from the store figured prominently in the offerings at a cocktail party I attended Friday evening.)
Looking forward to a return visit soon.
Sounds like a “must try” place. I wonder how Lemon Tree will affect business at Whole Foods in Willowbrook and Trader Joe’s in Downers Grove?
Sounds like a nice addition to the downtown area. (Though the name “Lemon Tree” – I’ll always think first of the place in Lemont where you can still get a Dog N Suds-type Texasburger!)
I’d say it’s complementary rather than highly competitive. If you need a few things for dinner — produce, fresh meat/fish, a bottle of wine — and you (or your spouse) come home by train, I can totally see stopping in at the Lemon Tree instead of getting in the car and driving some place. It’s also handy for others who are downtown on a regular basis and certainly for the area’s condo dwellers. TJ and Whole Foods are larger stores, LT is more a niche grocer. I think they’ll all play well together.
I was in Sunday and was very disappointed. There was a lot of open space that could be used to sell items, very little food selections including prepaired meals . I felt like I was in a high end liquor store selling cheese.
I hope it gets better. If not there space will be for rent. Very sad. There is so much potential and public excitement that the sky is there limit……………
I give them less than 2 years. I wish them luck and hope they are here to stay, but they are a nitch store. Kind of like many stores downtown.
Why does the image of the the two crotchety old hecklers from “The Muppet Show” suddenly come to mind? Or , better yet, the character “Glum” from the cartoon series, “The Adventures of Gulliver.”
That’s funny Punto!
I like it and wish them well.
If today’s good service, fair pricing and attractive appearance continues, I will be a steady customer. Their coffee is excellent.
Great opening event this afternoon! Looks nice. Some good produce bargains too.
This can be a successful niche grocery / eatery with sustained long term delivery of high quality unique product choices combined with great knowledgeable service. They will continually have to re-invent and market this store to stay on the cutting edge. Cooking classes and demonstrations come to mind immediately. Repeat business will be there life blood for survival. Customers have many choices for where to shop. Lemon Tree’s target market is smaller and probably more affluent thus initially winning new customers and retaining them will be a key factor for long time survival.
Agreed CMP, but it is hard for niche grocer’s in Chicagoland to survive. It always has been. When it comes right down to it price is a huge factor. If the pricing gets high the customer base will go back to Jewel and Ultra.
Went there today. It was GREAT! The wine/coffee bar was very lively. Love the sandwich meats and the cheese selection! More Treasure island than Trader Joes and yet very unlike both in a good way.
Low pricing and high volumes will not work. Fair pricing and a pleasant and different shopping experience may work. The owners seem to be on the uptake so I give them a fairly high probability for success, but it will not be easy.
Had a huge Cobb salad there today for lunch. Not bad at all. Didnt understand why it cost extra to add chicken to a cobb salad. Every cobb salad I have ever had anywhere always has chicken in it. Nice selection of speciality items. Not sure if all or the majority of our community will embrace the concept. This is the type of store you usually see in North Shore neighborhoods. Is DG ready for this? hope so.
I think we are absolutely ready for this! This is the tone we want to set in our downtown and why not? The Emil’s lunchmeat I purchased there was excellent!Believe it or not I have met many DG residents who moved here from North Side/North Shore areas….hmmm
I was in Downtown Hinsdale yesterday and a number of the stores were either empty/for lease or moving out/Closing, far more empty’s than DTDG – I have never seen it so empty there.
Its niche, but its a good one. The outdoor patio area should be filled up every evening the temperature stays above 60. The produce is reasonably priced, the steaks more so, and the beer selection rivals Binny’s.
To survive, the store will have to pull customers from beyond our borders, and I think that’s reasonable to expect. There’s nothing else around quite like it.
You mean to tell me Downers Grove can support the King’s Health Spa but not the Lemon Tree? What does that say about this community, that we’ll pay for happy endings before we pay too much for cheese?
I’d guess King’s is able to draw clients from beyond our borders. Probably lots of Hinsdalians, who have no such health enhancement businesses within their city limits.
Meat, did you see the recent arrest of prostitutes and johns in the paper. The arrest was made at The Red Roof Inn, not anywhere near Ogden Ave.
My first experience with the Lemon Tree involved having to force my way through the smoke of three guys smoking giant cigars while playing cards at one of the tables outside. Classy guys. Real classy. Way to welcome the new store and drive off others that might have sat next to you.
Dilbert-
Isn’t there a cigar shop right around the corner, what are they doing at The Lemon Tree?? Ugh, cigars. Unless your Tony Soprano or Tony Montana I just don’t get it.
Trish, I did see that notice online in the Herald. I suspect that the ending was so very happy at the Spa the johns decided to keep the party going, but the Tivoli had no vacancies.
Too bad the Lemon Tree does not want to “upset” anyone as it’s the new kid in town. Were the guys violating the 15 feet from the door rule? Also part of the law is that if the smoke is drifting into an entrance or intake it is a violation.
The Spas on Ogden already have a leased spaced with treatment rooms and a sign in the window in order to ply thier trade – they don’t need to rent a room and put out an online add.
They should have a no smoking sign out there if they haven’t put one up yet. “Hey this area is really nice, let’s light up and enjoy it.” NOT.
Nice store and it was interesting to visit a place that is not laid out exactly like other groceries – row after row of boxed stuff. I felt disoriented for a minute, looking for the aisles, before realizing I was right in the middle of everything. Can’t see visiting on a regular basis, though. Occasional visit for something unusual, maybe, but the weekly shopping trip will have to be at a bigger store.
For Europeans who live in those buildings and walk home from the train in the evening it seems perfect.
I went there to pick up something quick for lunch. To me it looks like a really nice deli with fresh produce. It was okay. The chicken salad I had included some fresh cartlidge, which i suppose proves it was made there. A lot of people seem to be employed there, but not a whole lot of workers.
I wish them well in this economy, as stated above it would be a great place to pick up something quick on the way home. I just don’t really understand what took so long to open…
It may never be a Forrest Finer Foods but it still looks nice. I think this new store will be around for some time, maybe a place where I can buy milk in retirement in Downers. Downers a nice place to raise a family and grow old (I love Downers Grove).
Made a trip to this grocery store today. Not really sure what all the hub hub was for. This is not the grocery store that the Downtown was waiting for. There is almost NO way you can do all of your shopping at the Lemon Tree. It is a smaller version of Michaels on the south side of town. Both stores seem to be empty durring the week. I wish them both luck, but not too sure how long they will survive. Jewel will not lose any business as a result of these two stores.
Did you really expect a Jewel in the CBC, Doc? Jewel couldn’t survive there because costs are higher. I like the Lemon Tree for what it is, not what it isn’t. We were there tonight on half-price wine night. That’s something you won’t find at Jewel (no dis on Jewel — it fulfills its niche well, too). They served a nice cheese platter, or you could go inside and order a salad or even choose a hunk of meat that they would grill for you. We — including our daughter, who had a nicely chilled bottle of watermelon soda — enjoyed ourselves immensely. Can’t wait to do it again.
Your absolutely correct Doc, you can’t do all your shopping at the Lemon Tree, nor was that the intent. If you need a roll of toilet paper or a can of Cheese Wiz then Jewel is the ticket. This is not Jewel, but its not some hyper-exclusive artisan foodie-toodie shop either.
The butcher counter is reasonably priced and the steaks are beautiful, the produce selection is impressive for such a small place. They have carry out meals when your time pressed or a loaf of bread for your PB@J, and 3 Floyds to wash it down.
I beg to differ, its exactly what the downtown needed. It was never going to be Jewel, besides, we all ready have one.
I went in at lunch time yesturday (LUNCHTIME!)and it was a ghost town. You can defend it all you want. But if it’s dead at lunch time you have a problem.
Got a chunk of sea bass at Lemon Tree plus advice from the chef behind the counter on how best to cook it. Turned into a high-end restaurant-quality meal. Good wine at a reasonable price, too. Superb!
Agreed Doc, let’s hope it catches on. Its a great addition to our CBD.
…for the record, nobody eats lunch at Jewel either..
Everyone needs to spread the word that Lemon Tree is a great place. We have bought steaks and chicken there, all have been great, I’ve had the sushi at lunchtime and tonight I was their with my sister from out of town and had a bottle of wine and a very delicious cheese platter. (no corking fee on Thursday and half-price cheese platter with a bottle of wine, you can’t beat that anywhere!) It’s a great spot and if you look around you’ll find they have a great deal of product in a small space. I love it!
Jewel is busy durring the day. For the record.