UPDATE: August 17, 2021: Foxtrot plans to open a third location in Washington, D.C., in October, the company said in an email. The new store, to be located at 1601 Connecticut Ave., NW, in the city's Dupont Circle neighborhood, will have a larger selection than the company's other stores, including a charcuterie bar and house-made craft sandwiches. The 2,488-square-foot location will also sell wine and feature a full coffee bar, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. Foxtrot is developing a fourth location in the nation's capital, but has not said where that store will be located.
Dive Brief:
- Foxtrot Market on Monday opened the first of two new locations in Washington, D.C., the upscale convenience store chain announced in a press release. The store's opening in the Georgetown neighborhood is set to be followed by a location near the city’s convention center on March 22.
- The new store marks Foxtrot’s first location outside Chicago and Dallas, where it currently operates a combined 10 stores.
- Flush with cash from a just-closed fundraising round of $42 million, Foxtrot is looking to double its store fleet by the end of 2021 by adding locations where it currently operates and by putting down roots in Washington.
Dive Insight:
Foxtrot has sought since its launch in 2014 to entice customers with a unique blend of convenience, technology and merchandise, and it is hoping to replicate its success with that recipe as it launches operations in its third city.
Like Foxtrot’s existing locations, the store that opened in Washington on Monday is replete with elements that encourage people to linger even as it touts the retailer’s one-hour local delivery service. The location at 1267 Wisconsin Ave. NW features an outdoor patio, coffee bar, comprehensive beer and wine collection, and chef-prepared foods. The second store Foxtrot plans to open in the city, which will be located at 650 Massachusetts Ave. NW, will be similarly outfitted, according to the press release.
Both locations will carry a variety of locally sourced products, including ice cream, coffee and baked goods. “This is a city of conscious consumers who want to support local makers, and who prioritize convenience and a great user experience,” Foxtrot co-founder and CEO Michael LaVitola said in the press release.
In an interview last year, LaVitola said Foxtrot spent two years scouting potential sites in Washington before settling on spots for the new stores.
Foxtrot is branching out with a significant wind in its sails. The company’s recently completed investment round of $42 million is in addition to the $17 million raised in February 2020. In July, Foxtrot reported that it had doubled its revenue on a year-over-year basis between January and May.
In August, Foxtrot rolled out a new brand campaign, “Good Stuff Delivered,” designed to highlight its delivery service while underscoring the retailer’s curated assortment of goods. The retailer also recently beefed up its management team, bringing on a chief operating officer, senior vice president of delivery and vice president of strategy, and in January launched nationwide shipping featuring gift baskets stocked with niche products.