By Howard Cohen
Much smaller than a Publix and about the same size as a 7-Eleven, Chicago’s Go Grocer is about to make its Florida debut.
It’s not a supermarket. But it’s not a gas station mini-mart, either. So, what makes it different?
It’s a hybrid grocery and convenience store found in walkable urban neighborhoods. You may not be able to check off your full shopping list there, but it stocks items you won’t find in the mini-mart.
The first Go Grocer in South Florida is planned for Fort Lauderdale’s Motif, a 385-unit mixed-use apartment building at 500 N. Andrews Ave. The complex opened in 2020 in the Flagler Village neighborhood.
The target opening date is August or September if construction goes as planned, owner Gerardo Santiago said in an email interview with the Miami Herald from his Chicago office.
“Go Grocer is a modern convenience-driven grocery concept designed for urban, high-density neighborhoods,” Santiago said. “Our locations are thoughtfully placed to serve residents in walkable communities, offering a curated selection of fresh foods and everyday essentials. The Motif location reflects our strategy of integrating seamlessly into communities where proximity and convenience are key.”
Motif is in a residential and mixed business walkable neighborhood in a former industrial area next door to Regal Trace Apartments and near The Forge Lofts, Sistrunk Boulevard and Northwest Fifth Street. Venues like the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Discovery and Science are nearby, along with the Riverwalk and plenty of restaurants.
There is a Publix on Las Olas about a mile away from the Motif. A Whole Foods is about two miles away on Southeast 17th Street and a Trader Joe’s is just about three miles away on North Federal Highway.
What is Go Grocer?
Think of Go Grocer and its coming 2,538-square-foot Fort Lauderdale location as a hybrid grocery-convenience store that stocks essentials and aisles of grab-and-go items like sandwiches and salads. The store has sections devoted to spirits, wine and beer, organic goods, prepared meals, craft beverages.
Unlike a quick mart, there is a produce section, and there are shelves with desserts, bottled water and sports drinks. You’ll find aisles of chips, canned goods and locally sourced products.
Out of milk and sugar for the creamy panna cotta dessert you plan to whip up for a last-minute dinner party? Run downstairs from your unit at the Motif or a nearby building and you should be good to go. Go Grocer also boasts a delivery option.
Go Grocer was founded in Chicago in 2008 and has grown to about 20 stores, most of them in Illinois. But the grocery retailer started expanding with the addition of a couple of stores in the Milwaukee area in early 2023.
The next foothold appears to be South Florida, Santiago said.
Why is Go Grocer coming to South Florida?
Go Grocer could expand in and beyond Fort Lauderdale.
Could that mean future stores in downtown Miami, Brickell or Wynwood?
“We intend to grow our presence in South Florida, beginning with additional locations in Fort Lauderdale,” Santiago said. “We are actively evaluating other markets across the state, including the Miami area, to determine the most strategic locations for future expansion.”
The number of stores planned for Florida is still to be determined, he said.
“Our expansion plans will be guided by the performance of our current locations and the evolving market opportunities within Florida and beyond.”
Fort Lauderdale won the neighborhood market’s inaugural Florida slot because the city and the Flagler Village community met several of the chain’s strategic demographic and geographic criteria, Santiago said.
“The city’s vibrant, growing population and walkable neighborhoods made it an ideal choice to introduce our concept to the Florida market,” he said.
Fort Lauderdale has over 184,260 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city’s urban core may only be 2.2 square miles, but it houses more than 26,000 of those residents — 13% of the city’s population — a boost of 63% since 2018, according to a 2024 study by the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority. The downtown area is projected to continue growing over the next few years.
The trend adds up for the fledgling company, Santiago says: “Go Grocer provides a premium shopping experience in compact spaces that cater to the daily needs of city dwellers.”
What else is in Motif?
South Florida real estate firm Native Realty brokered the Go Grocer deal and others at the Motif. Spokeswoman Kaley Tuning said the following newcomers have either opened or plan to open soon at the Motif:
▪ BFT Fitness is in the process of finishing construction and should be open some time in the summer.
▪ DentEast, a boutique dental office, has opened.
▪ Livia Bar and Grill, a casual modern Italian restaurant is open.
▪ Salon Lofts is in its permitting phase. Opening date is to be determined.
▪ Nectar Lab, an upscale elevated kava bar, is under construction and eyeing a fall 2025 opening.
▪ Dog Drop daycare for dogs is open.
▪ Mitch’s Bagels is open.
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. He started his career in the Features department at the Miami Herald in 1991. Cohen is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Communication. Support my work with a digital subscription
