Wilde & Greene Crews Prepare for Debut
Westfield Old Orchard Mall's newest tenant will have some unique features and services.
Crews at Wilde & Greene are working around the clock, hammering, drilling, planting flowers and arranging furniture to get the combination restaurant, bar and grocery store ready to open some time next week.
Read more: Patch's coverage of Wilde & Greene
The centerpiece of the 30,000-square-foot space at Westfield Old Orchard Mall is a restaurant set up like an open market. Customers will be given a swipe card to buy food at any of the 18 stations and pay at the end. The huge selection includes oysters on the half shell, an antipasto bar, crepes, steaks, omelets and cheesecake.
Menus are displayed on chalkboards and flat-screen TVs, with entrees running from about $10-$12. Everything is made from scratch in-house and dishes such as sushi, stir fry foods and pizza are made to order while customers watch.
“We are all about freshness so we want people to see how it’s being done,” said marketing manager Cristiane Hioki.
Wilde & Greene can be accessed through two entrances. One opens up on the gelato display, while at the other customers are greeted by the "Fruit Tree," a large artificial tree at the center of a station serving fresh squeezed juices and fruit salads.
Seating areas are scattered throughout the space and are given a unique look by using different tables and chairs. Much of the decor was custom made for Wilde & Greene and the divisions can be sectioned off for private parties.
The second component of Wilde & Greene is the rooftop patio, which is expected to open Friday. It features 150 seats, with a mix of chairs, barstools and lounge-style couches. The area will be full service, with its own kitchen preparing small plates and a bar serving local craft beers, wines and cocktails.
After grabbing a meal, customers can stop in at Wilde & Greene’s natural supermarket, which sells organic, vegan, gluten-free and kosher items. Shelves are stocked with soup, cooking products, cereal, detergent, paper towels made from recycled paper and much more.
“Everything you’d find in a Whole Foods, we’ll sell the same categories,” said Charles Pratt, assistant general manager of the natural market.
Pricing is also more likely to be in line with Whole Foods than Jewel, the company's representative said.
“Of course price points will be higher than if you go to the grocery store, but the quality will be higher as well,” Hioki said.
The market will also carry fresh produce, frozen foods, dried goods, locally sourced meats raised without antibiotics or hormones, whole fish and seafood.
“We’re going to try as much as possible to do the most sustainable options,” said Heather Prins, deli and commissary manager.
Space constraints may limit the selection on shelves, but Pratt says he will work with customers who are looking for a specific cut of meat or a particular hair product.
“We can get almost anything out there that’s natural and organic,” Pratt said. “For the most part if we don’t carry something they want, I’ll get it for them.”
Note - It was originally reported that Wilde & Greene would open on Monday. That date was a tentative start that the company was shooting for. A spokesperson said some time next week is more likely.
Lori Lippitz
5:20 pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
What is the update on this? On the Patch website, it says the launch date may be postponed. Please update, thanks!
George Slefo
3:41 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thank you for the comment! Check back Monday morning for an in depth look inside Wilde & Greene.
Denise
5:43 am on Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wild & Green Should be open until the mall closes...they are only open till 6???
George Slefo
12:48 pm on Saturday, July 30, 2011
Just an update, Wilde & Greene is still not open full time. Thus, our Monday piece will not be ready. Once the new restaurant/grocery/bar is open, we will be sure to include an in depth article with video. Stay tuned!
Brian
4:40 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wilde & Greene is a disaster. Total chaos, you can't tell what is being served at what food station. The menu board are not in sync with what is being offered at each station. The trays are as heavy as a 2 X 4. Uninfomed and untrained staff add to the confusion. The food is passable but totally overpriced. Some food stations had more staff behind the counter than people waiting to be served. The market is completely impractical. I'll give it eight months unless major changes are made.
George Slefo
5:29 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Thank you for the comment Brian! If you're curious, check out what our food critic had to say about Wilde & Greene. And feel free to chime in some more =)
http://skokie.patch.com/articles/wilde-greene-a-delightful-hodgepodge
Pat Craig
12:33 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
My experience last week was not a positive one. I tried the rosti, as I figured I'd take to opportunity to try something new, part of the reason I went with the dish was because not much else appealed to me. The rosti with bratwurst was nothing more than mediocre, lukewarm hash browns topped with a whole, commercial grade cheese- stuffed sausage. I would have been just as satisfied by opening up a bag of Ore Ida frozen hash browns and an Eckridge Farms kielbasa and tossing them on the stove for ten minutes.
My review... stay home and eat Ramen noodles.
Juan
9:28 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Its great that ther's a new job oportunity in the city but i have friends that work there and they have told me that the company is only trying to make money by paying people minimun wage. I as a good friend would like for my friends to have a reasonable wage because i have noticed that theres great workers that work there and they dont get payed what they desrbe. I hope it wont boter no one.