Is the future of upscale grocery in Aurora, IL?
Today there is a slew of upscale grocery chains jostling to differentiate themselves with boutique on-trend product selection, experiential offerings and various high-tech bells and whistles. The recently opened Cosmopolitan Marketplace in Aurora, IL joins a growing list of grocers with a slate of features that go beyond a standard supermarket, and in fact some of what is on display make rivals seem run-of-the-mill by comparison.
The first and thus far only Cosmopolitan Marketplace had its grand opening in early July. In addition to a gourmet supermarket, the Marketplace sells kitchenware and houses a Brazilian Steakhouse, furniture store, and appliance showroom. The grocery space features such aesthetic add-ons as LED lighting and chandeliers, according to CBS Chicago. A Chicago Tribune article further describes quartz and chrome shelving, a bar and restaurant, a full bakery, a floor for meat processing and a coffee bar.
Perhaps one of the store's most notable features is the implementation of a checkout technology that does away with the need for cashiers to ring up individual items. CBS Chicago reports that a camera system called RAPTOR (Retail Application Prototype Testing of Operational Robotics) allows customers to place their groceries on a conveyor belt and have them scanned by a camera that circles the items.
![[Image: Cosmopolitan Market]](/public/images/discussions/18411/cosmopolitan-market-still.jpg)
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Matt Bank, store director, said the store has increased its inventory since its soft launch in June, bringing in products based on requests from the community.
Reviews on Yelp were split in terms of their take on the décor, with some reviewers indicating that it was gaudy, lacking in signage and laid out inconveniently. Others called it a unique shopping experience.