The Post Marketplace Test Kitchen offers healthy food options, a convenient pantry, catering, events, and more! 

Welcome to Post Marketplace Test Kitchen, 
an innovative culinary experience in the heart of downtown Waukegan. 

This is where health meets taste in Lake County.

We are dedicated to crafting wholesome and nourishing breakfast and lunch experiences. We've curated a menu that caters to both your taste buds and your well-being. Join us in savoring these delightful creations, thoughtfully prepared to invigorate your day with a touch of culinary elegance.

Online Ordering Coming Soon
Be the first to know about special events and the latest menus.
How does it work?

We’re all about convenience and flexibility at our downtown Waukegan Test Kitchen. With our online ordering platform, you can easily browse our diverse menu of healthy and delectable breakfast and lunch options. 

Online Ordering Coming Soon
Planning an event?

Our catering services bring the same dedication to quality and variety. Impress your guests with our nourishing and delicious offerings, curated to suit various preferences and dietary needs.

Contact us for catering: catering@postmarketil.com

View Catering Menu [pdf]
delivery

And for those days when stepping out isn't an option, coming soon our delivery service ensures that the goodness of Post Marketplace can come right to your doorstep or office. 

Online Ordering Coming Soon
At our downtown Waukegan Test Kitchen, we're not just providing meals; we're offering a culinary experience tailored to your convenience and well-being.
Post Cafe
Post Pantry
Shared Kitchen
Food Hub
The Market

Post Cafe

The first Food Hall in Lake County, The Post Cafe will feature a variety of unique restaurateurs offering everything from sit down white-linen table cloth, upscale dining experiences to urban street foods.  Food proprietors range from chef-driven concepts to relatively unknown start-ups. While very few Food Halls exist in suburban Chicago counties, many Lake County residents are very familiar with The French Market on the ground floor of Ogilvie transportation center in Downtown Chicago or Revival Food Hall downtown.  Both are successful Food Halls in downtown Urban settings.  Adelante is bringing this urban upscale foodie concept to Lake County through The Post Cafe.

Post pantry

Food pantries receive valuable donations but also purchase food, box it, and distribute it to residents.  Donations from food banks often contain limited healthy or fresh options in favor of more shelf stable (often high salt) products.  Residents can be constrained by lack of transportation, limited options for elderly/disabled, or diet restrictions.  Little direct communication occurs with patrons so no additional services are offered.  Pantries also typically operate during limited hours/days and needy clients don’t know how to use the donated food to prepare a complete meal.  Our Post Pantry will provide balanced food boxes that meet their specific needs but overcome greater barriers to accessing food. Post Pantry’s online ordering and delivery makes getting access to delicious, nutrient-rich meals accessible to everyone.

shared kitchen

Shared kitchens are licensed commercial spaces that provide a pathway for food entrepreneurs— ranging from chefs, caterers, food truck operators, and bakers, to value added producers and packaged food and beverage makers—to launch and grow their businesses. By renting space in a shared kitchen on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis, businesses can produce food in compliance with regulatory requirements without needing to invest in their own facility during a stage when capital and cash flow are a challenge. In addition, our kitchen will provide cooking classes and a culinary medicine curriculum that teaches how to use the healthy foods provided throughout The Post Marketplace including The Post Pantry and the Farm to School program. By providing entrepreneurs, producers, and food access programs with affordable space, shared kitchens can help strengthen local food systems and build community prosperity. Future Lake County food businesses can test their concepts in the marketplace before risking the upfront capital investment typically required.

food hub

Food Hubs provide a centrally located facility with a business management structure that facilitates aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing of locally and regionally produced food products. One key goal is to give small and medium-sized food producers access to larger additional markets to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand. Our Food Hub will contain artisanal food vendors selling items like gourmet meats and cheeses, bakery goods, chocolates, artisan breads, gourmet pastas etc. We will also offer unique culinary offerings like vegan or vegetarian as well as lifestyle brands. If you know a local food business that might be interested in being part of the Food Hub, connect with us and we’ll follow up.

the market

The Post Grocery/Market will be the only retail store carrying premium grocery and home products in the far Northeastern corner of Illinois. From our planned location in North Chicago, IL, The Post Market will serve consumers seeking high quality food, beverage, personal care, and home care items but not wanting to drive 9 miles or more to the next closest premium grocery store. The market will carry a variety of products from trusted brands that are unique and, whenever possible, contain organic/all-natural ingredients and environmentally friendly/sustainable materials.

Post Marketplace Customer Survey

Adelante Center's Post Marketplace is a transformative food, beverage, and retail economic development project that will bring premium food businesses, jobs, and entertainment to East Lake County. We'd like your opinions on the types of products and services that you'd like to see in the marketplace, even if you don't live in Lake County. 

Economic Impact

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New Annual Visitors 

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New Jobs 

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annual revenue

connect With Us

Embark on a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure with us—your presence is the missing ingredient!

HAVE A FOOD BUSINESS? JOIN THE TEST KITCHEN

Calling all food entrepreneurs and culinary enthusiasts! Elevate your culinary creations by joining Post Marketplace Test Kitchen. If you have a food business or a passion for crafting delectable dishes, our state-of-the-art kitchen provides the perfect space to experiment, innovate, showcase your culinary expertise, and access thousands of online customers throughout Lake County with minimal upfront investment and risk.

From healthy breakfast and lunch options to gourmet sandwiches, specialty coffee, and baked goods, our diverse menu offers a canvas for your creativity. Collaborate with like-minded individuals, access top-notch facilities, and be part of a thriving culinary community. Join us and let your flavors shine!

Connect with our staff at contact@postmarketil.com

Contact Us

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