Get Ready to Go Back To School at Chicago French Market's Back to School Party Saturday, August 21

CHICAGO, IL, August 18, 2010

Get Ready to Go Back To School at Chicago French Market's Back to School Party Saturday, August 21

Chicago French Market has a party planned for students heading back to school, and the public is invited. Don't miss Chicago French Market's Back To School Party, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 21. Chicago's first year-round, indoor market located at 131 N. Clinton St. in the West Loop/Fulton River District is the new hub for community activity.

"It only makes sense that we help celebrate the end of summer and the start of back-to-school season by offering specials and activities for families," says Sebastien Bensidoun, of the Bensidoun family, co-owners and operators of Chicago French Market. The Market is community based, and an activity like the Back To School Party is just a sample of the type of events that we host to for this ever-growing neighborhood."

Children participating on August 21 will enjoy a balloon artist from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and coloring activities throughout the event. The first 170 children at the market will receive a school supply gift, while supplies last. Parents and children alike will also enjoy the many product specials from Chicago French Market's nearly 30 individual vendors, including Abbey Brown Soap Artisan's Teacher's Pet special: any organic lip balm and specialty soap for $6. Gramp's Gourmet Foods will sell its hot dogs for just $2 throughout the day, while supplies last. Pick up Les Fleurs' special Back to School Bouquet, an assortment of fresh seasonal flowers with a whimsical nod towards the coming school year ($25), which comes with a coupon for $5 off the next purchase of $25 or more at Les Fleurs (valid through September 30, 2010.)

Chicago French Market is a European-inspired market offering an array of local produce, meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheese, wine, chocolates, pastas, artisan-made goods, specialty drinks, flowers, prepared meals and a seating area for customers. Chicago French Market's diverse group of local vendors stay open year-round, six days per week, and is located within the new MetraMarket development at 131 N. Clinton St. (between Washington and Randolph Streets). For more information, visit http://www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.

CHICAGO FRENCH MARKET INFORMATION

Location: 131 N. Clinton St. (between Randolph and Washington Streets)
Chicago, Illinois 60661

Phone Number: 312-575-0306

Hours: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday

Parking: Covered, ground-level parking is available. Parking is
complimentary for one hour or less with purchases totaling $20 or more at Chicago French Market vendors.

About Chicago French Market - A Bensidoun Market
Chicago French Market is Chicago's first and only year-round, European-inspired indoor market, a convenient new option for on-the-go commuters, community residents, area workers and tourists alike who seek high quality foods and artisan goods, dining options and memorable gifts. The 15,000-square-foot Chicago French Market is located at 131 North Clinton Street and is the anchor tenant for MetraMarket, an accessible, one-stop destination that provides not only cultural and culinary experiences, but also life's essentials and convenience products.

Developed and managed by Chicago-based U.S. Equities Realty and The Bensidoun family, the latter is the largest operator of open-air markets in Paris. The Bensidoun family members are fourth generation market operators. Thousands of vendors sell goods at the more than 80 markets throughout the Paris metropolitan area, including Marche Raspail, one of the largest certified organic markets in Europe. In 1996, the Bensidouns decided to expand outside of Europe to develop French Markets in the United States and chose Chicago for their U.S. base of operations. The Bensidouns now operate sixteen seasonal markets in the U.S., thirteen of which are located in Chicago and area suburbs. All of the Bensidoun's markets bring a sense of local community found in the markets of Europe, and provide customers with a place to gather, socialize, purchase quality goods at reasonable prices and meet directly with knowledgeable artisans, farmers and purveyors. For more information, visit http://www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.

About MetraMarket
MetraMarket is an accessible, one-stop destination that provides not only cultural and culinary experiences, but also life's essentials and convenience products. The 100,000-square-foot street level development is connected to Ogilvie Transportation Center's bustling suburban commuter concourse and spans two city blocks bound by Lake, Canal, Washington and Clinton Streets. MetraMarket's other tenants include a 14,000-square-foot CVS/Pharmacy and a 2,045-square-foot Espression by Lavazza Italian cafe both now open. MetraMarket is a collaboration between developer U.S. Equities Realty, Metra and the City of Chicago. For more information, visit http://www.metramarket.com.

About U.S. Equities Realty
U.S. Equities Realty is a leading full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Chicago. The company serves as a strategic real estate advisor to clients throughout the United States and Latin America, providing development, program management, build-to-suit and construction oversight services; asset management, leasing and repositioning; tenant representation, consulting and advisory services; and financial and investment services.

One of the company's distinctions is its vision to transform or reposition underutilized areas into thriving urban destinations that benefit the community's local economy, create jobs and expand entrepreneurial opportunities for new local businesses. As a pioneer developer on the forefront of change, U.S. Equities has helped to transform other underutilized transit centers including Denver Union Station, Chicago Union Station and LaSalle Street Station in Chicago, plus 30th Street Station and MetroMarket at Suburban Station in Philadelphia. U.S. Equities has also overseen the development of other transformative projects in Chicago including Millennium Park, Stony Island Plaza, John Hancock Center, One Financial Place, Spertus Institute and Willis Tower (previously Sears Tower). The company is committed to sustainable development in all of its endeavors, and assesses sustainable alternatives in all of its business practices and services. For more information, visit http://www.usequities.com.

For more information on Chicago French Market, interviews, media tours and high-resolution images: Contact Cindy Kurman or Catherine Patterson at (312) 651-9000 or kurmanstaff@kurman.com.

Kurman Communications, Inc. is a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle media relations and events. Media strategists, brand masters, and leaders in social networking, Kurman is celebrating its 25 anniversary this year. To learn more, visit http://www.kurman.com or call us at 312-651-9000.

Media contact:
Kurman Communications, Inc.
(312) 651-9000
Catherine Patterson / Cindy Kurman
catherine@kurman.com / prcindy@kurman.com
Twitter: @kurmanstaff
Twitter: @chifrenchmarket