Sep 24, 2010

Retail store to open at RothschildsBy Matt SanctisSpringfieldNewsSun.com

Urbana, IL — When the retail store and restaurant at Robert Rothschild Farm closed last summer, many residents made sure the business’ owners knew how important the store was to the community.

The stores had been closed so that Rothschild Farm could focus on their line of gourmet foods, but Jim Gordon, president and CEO of the company, was listening.

Although Rothschild Farm will not open its own store again, a new retail store will take its place next month. Gordon said Le Gourmet Chef, a kitchen retail store based in Chillicothe, will open a store at the former site on Oct. 1.

There will no longer be a restaurant, but Gordon said numerous stations will be available for guests to sample Rothschild Farm products.

“We look at this as an outstanding solution for Rothschilds and the community,” Gordon said.

At least for now, the new retail store is a bit of an experiment for the Chillicothe company. The store will be in business through January, and then its owners will assess whether to continue offering products at that location. The business sells a wide range of items, including cookware, kitchen appliances and coffee and tea products.

“We know manufacturing, they know retailing,” Gordon said.

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