Nearly Two Years After Opening, Heights Market Plans Future

As you walk into the Height Fresh Market in Chicago Heights you are hit with the smell of sweet bread baking. Head to the produce department and the scent of green cilantro fills the air.

Regional Mexican music rings throughout the store and bright colors cover the walls. It's likely that you'll find everything you need to prepare a traditional Mexican dinner and a lot more.

The 17,000-square-foot market opened in July 2009 next to the large parking lot referred to as the Chicago Heights Exhibition Center.

It took two years of planning and building before the store opened, market co-owner Tereso Gamboa said.

"The economy got bad and our (bank) loan was frozen," he said. "I thought it wasn't going to happen."

But when the store finally opened he said he was happy and grateful, adding that the city staff was helpful in making the store a reality.

Gamboa and his cousin Domingo Cabral decided to open Heights Fresh Market after running Los Compadres grocery store in the 1900 block of Chicago Road.

"There was parking problems there," he said. "We wanted to offer a better service to our clients."

The store offers a large selection of fresh meat, poultry and seafood. Customers can also purchase hot food such as tamales, carnitas -- fried pork meat -- and other items made in the store. The deli carries traditional cold cuts and fresh salsas and guacamole. Rabbit and goat meat are also available.

On a recent Sunday morning, Cabral packed steaming tamales in packages of 12. He said they prepared 50 dozen for the Sunday crowd.

Aurelia Fetz works in the bakery and she stocked display case shelves with conchas -- sweet bread with colorful shell-patterned sugar topping. She lined them by color pink, white and brown.

"It's still early," Fetz said about the full shelves. "But after church it will get really busy."

Beside the sweet bread customers can also purchase flan – custard – and slices of traditional tres leches (or three milks) cake.

Gamboa said all products at the store sell well, but a lot of customers use their Money Gram service to wire money to family members in Mexico. International calling cards also sell well at the store.

Another popular feature at the store is the corn and fresh fruit cart where Esther Colio cuts up fresh fruits such as jicama, mango, watermelon and cucumbers to make salads to sell with lemon and chili powder. Corn on a stick or in cup with butter, mayonnaise, cheese and chili powder is also available.

A restaurant will soon open at the site as well, Gamboa revealed.

“We’re getting ready,” he said. “It’s probably going to open in July.”

is at 1657 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights, and is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.