At Chia Leah's grand opening Monday, Jan. 9, are (left to right) Dane Morris, kitchen manager; Shannon Preda, client development director; Leah Bostrom, founder; and Kim Whalen, kitchen production staffer | Courtesy of The Record North Shore
by JOE COUGHLIN | THE RECORD NORTH SHORE
The doors are open to Wilmette’s newest storefront.
Healthful food shop Chia Leah Clean Eats welcomed customers for the first time on Monday morning, Jan. 9, in West Edens Plaza.
Proprietor Leah Bostrom and her team have been rehabbing the unit since the summer.
“It’s been a long time coming. It feels exciting now that we’re finally in it,” Bostrom told The Record. “We’re ready to open the doors and get more people fed good food.”
The new storefront offers all the items available on the Chia Leah website — such as the popular breakfast cookies and Clean Bites — in a grab-and-go format. But that’s not all. Bostrom said the store will offer weekly specials such as Chia puddings, pies and a tea of the day. On Monday, roasted beet hummus and cherry chocolate mini pies were available.
Behind the front of the house is Chia Leah’s headquarters, including a commercial kitchen to prepare items for the store and for the business’s 40 retail clients.
Chia Leah’s shelves in its new Wilmette storefront include a variety of Clean Bites | Courtesy of The Record North Shore