Mozzarella Store, Pizza & Caffè Coming to Chicago’s Mag Mile in 2019

CHICAGO, December 19, 2018 – JLL today announced that Chicago will see the country’s first Mozzarella Store on Michigan Avenue in spring 2019. Located in the former Hershey’s space at 822 North Michigan Avenue, Mozzarella Store will be the first in its chain of stores in Chicago and throughout the U.S. to offer customers a unique experience into the world of Italian-style organic, sustainable “Fior di Latte” mozzarella. In addition to serving a variety of fresh cheeses, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy organic Neapolitan pizza and small plates in-store and purchase Mozzarella Store branded products at retail.

“We really wanted to create an exceptional, one-of-a-kind experience that brings people into the world of authentic Italian mozzarella,” said Mozzarella Store owner Antonio Somma. “We are incredibly excited to bring this first-ever concept to Chicago, and we hope that all our visitors enjoy the store as much as we enjoyed creating it.”

A large spinning machine will be front and center at the store where guests can experience the mozzarella and burrata making processes daily. In addition to serving fresh mozzarella, the store will offer a variety of other fresh and aged cheeses including ricotta, caciocavallo and provolone. Guests at the store will also be able to enjoy wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas from their Italian pizza chef, small plates, imported meats, wine and beer along with an Italian coffee and espresso bar with fresh pastries and “Fior di Latte” gelato, all made from organic ingredients.

Mozzarella Store will source its cheese and dairy products from organic, sustainable milk that will be produced in the company-owned factory in Warren, Indiana. Somma partnered with an Italian family of cheesemakers with three generations of experience to create the commercial organic cheese plant, “Golfo di Napoli Dairy,” named in honor of the Gulf of Naples, where traditional Italian mozzarella is made.

“After visiting the United States and testing local organic milk, we decided to set up a new dairy factory with the goal of making the experience of three generations of cheesemakers available to American gourmets,” said Somma. “We have gained a proven experience and a growing cheese mastery, always remaining faithful to the pastoral tradition from which this activity originates and continuing to give life to simple, genuine and natural products with a markedly handmade imprint.”

JLL’s Anthony Genovese represented Mozzarella Store in their lease at 822 North Michigan Avenue.

“We were incredibly thrilled and honored to partner with Antonio to help bring his passion and vision to life on one of the most prominent retail streets in the world,” said Genovese. “Visitors from across the globe will come to Chicago to experience all that Michigan Avenue has to offer, and this space is a perfect fit for the city’s first Mozzarella Store.”