Whole Foods Market announced today that it has purchased and plans to improve the empty lot just north of the Whole Foods Market Sauganash location at 6020 N. Cicero Avenue in Chicago. This newly paved lot will allow Whole Foods Market to better serve its customers and the greater Sauganash community.

“While we’re excited about being able to offer more convenient parking for our customers from the Sauganash community, what we’re most excited about are all of the other uses for this space,” said Lisa Staiger, Store Team Leader, Whole Foods Market Sauganash. “We’re discussing a lot of community focused ideas including hosting family movie nights, local vendor fairs, and outdoor barbeques.  This will help us celebrate the people that make Sauganash so amazing and support the incredible food artisans from our neighborhood and beyond.”

Whole Foods Market expects enhanced benefits to the greater Sauganash community in this newly paved lot. Landscaping is planned for the space keeping in character with the surrounding neighborhood. Whole Foods Market expects to be able to offer the space for community-based activities including outdoor local vendor fairs and other events intended to bring members of the neighborhood together.

The new parking lot will improve traffic flow at the entrance of the store along with improved ingress and egress from Cicero Avenue. Whole Foods Market customers will enjoy faster access to the store for their weekly grocery shopping or the last minute trip for a forgotten item. The enhanced LED lighting will add to increased visibility and security at the site.

The paving is expected to be complete by fall of 2015.