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MoneyWednesday, October 17, 2007 2:38 PM CDT
World Gourmet planning to triple space
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BLOOMINGTON -- World Gourmet Foods in Bloomington will nearly triple its size and selection next year, adding a kitchen for carry-out meals and cooking classes.

The global grocer is moving from its 3,000-square-foot shop, 120 Krispy Kreme Drive, Suite 2, to an 8,000-square-foot store in the same development, located behind Krispy Kreme and Potbelly Sandwich Works off Veterans Parkway and Washington Street.

The new shop, in a vacant spot next to The Bronze Frog, should open in January with an expanded line of kitchenware, natural and organic foods, vitamins and edibles from around the globe, said co-owner Hazem Jaber.

The grocery store opened in February 2006, featuring more than 400 types of chocolate, 350 cheese varieties, 200 specialty cooking oils, more than 1,000 medicinal and herbal teas and hundreds of spices, olives, peppers, jams, honeys, juices, breads, butters, ice creams, pastas and sauces, among other food items. The shop also stocks a variety of packaged meats, including kosher meats, duck, elk, venison, goat, rabbit, buffalo, lamb, beef and chicken.

“Everything we carry today will be expanded,” Jaber said.

He also plans to hire a full-time chef for catering and carry-out services. The store will have a regular menu of meals, Jaber said. In addition to the chef’s cooking classes, guest chefs will give cooking presentations as well.

“That (kitchen) will be a learning center to teach people about the different foods of the world,” said Jaber, a Palestine native who spent 15 years learning about foods from around the globe, traveling to Japan, Turkey, China, Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, Africa, South America, the Middle East, Australia and many other places.

For information on products or events, visit www.worldgourmetfoods.com.

World Gourmet Foods also has free tasting parties from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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Reader comments on this story - 12 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

It is quite pricey wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:00 AM:

" and I am on a strict budget. To be honest- I shop at Aldi's and Wal-Mart so that I can afford to splurge on some of the finer stuff at this place almost every week... I am far from wealthy, but being able to enjoy a few of their incredibly indulgent items makes me feel as though I am! "

Exorbitant wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:46 PM:

" There is a lot of variety there, but expensive. "

yay wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:50 AM:

" I love that place and I can't wait to see how big the new selection will be! "

Tom wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:44 AM:

" I am so happy for them. It's a great place to shop and I'm glad there has been enough business for them to thrive. "

a reader wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:55 AM:

" as the disco song goes... more, more, more.. how do you like it, how do you like it... more, more, more... awesome store... looking forward to more, more, more "

chubbyalaskagriz wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:57 AM:

" the mango-ginger and blueberry stiltons have been my new favs for a year now! this is an EXCITING new B/N business! Please give them a try! "

To Todd wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:32 AM:

" I love Whole Foods Market. Why won't Bloomington be getting one? "

ummm... wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:41 PM:

" This is my absolute favorite store in town and yes they do have incredibly friendly staff. I can't decide what to get when I go in there now...when they change I'll spend half the day in there. As a matter of fact I think tomorrow I will go in and pick up some olives and a little lavender cheddar! "

Todd wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:34 PM:

" This sounds great and since Bloomington won't be getting a Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats or Trader Joe's a larger World Gourmet Foods will fit in nicely. Me, I like Jewel. "

Lauren wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:12 PM:

" EXCELLENT!! This place is great and the staff is SOOOO friendly and incredibly knowledgable! I cannot wait to sign up for a class and get some carryout! "

DJO wrote on Oct 17, 2007 5:00 PM:

" Good! Glad to see this place expanding. It's a nice slice of diversity in B/N. The only problem with their current location is that it's too small. "

Awesome wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:37 PM:

" This is such a great store. If you haven't been there, do visit. The variety of imported cheeses, chocolates, and other foods is impressive. "

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