Time Out opens its biggest US market so far in Chicago

Media and leisure company Time Out Group announced on Thursday that Time Out Market Chicago had opened to the public.

The AIM-traded firm said the venue, occupying three floors, would showcase an “outstanding lineup” of 18 of the city's best chefs and restaurateurs, including two with Michelin stars in their own restaurants.

There would also be three bars, a demonstration kitchen, an events kitchen, an entertainment platform with bleacher seating and an “all-season rooftop bar”, with skyline views.

Located at 916 W Fulton Market in the city's West Loop neighbourhood, it was the firm’s largest location in North America, totalling 50,000 square feet.

“The first Time Out Market opened in 2014 in Lisbon and today the food and cultural market remains Portugal's most popular attraction with 3.9 million visitors in 2018,” the board explained in its statement.

“Following this success, five new Time Out Markets opened in North America this year in Miami and New York in May, in Boston in June, in Montréal in November, and in Chicago today.

“The six Time Out Markets now offer food from 120 of the best chefs of these cities, occupying 185,000 square feet and accommodating almost 4,000 seats.”

The company said the global roll out of the successful format was continuing with Time Out Market openings in Dubai in 2020, London Waterloo in 2021, and in Prague thereafter.

Time Out said it was continuing to scope new locations.

At 1601 GMT, shares in Time Out were down 1.37% at 125.75p.