Patel Brothers

Patel Brothers Hopes New $2 Million Store Sparks Life Into Devon | Eater Chicago

"I learned the Patels are investing $2 million to build a replacement Patel Brothers at 2610 W. Devon Avenue, aiming to spark a community renaissance with a mid‑May opening. The family’s first Patel Brothers opened in 1974 in an 800‑square‑foot space near the 2000 block of West Devon, and brothers Talashi and Mafat Patel turned that small store into a nationally recognized brand that now runs more than 50 stores across 19 states; research shows 15–18% of customers are not of South Asian heritage. The Devon location closed the day after Diwali (November 15) and was demolished to make way for a modern 7,000‑square‑foot store — a “little sibling” to the 28,000‑square‑foot superstore they opened in Niles in 2019 — which won’t have food stalls but will include a bakery selling snacks like samosa, chaat, and flatbreads (such as chappathi). With Devon’s businesses and foot traffic weakened by the pandemic and shifting suburban populations, the Patels say they hope this investment will revive the street’s longstanding South Asian commercial hub; the opening was originally planned for April 12 (the first day of Ramadan) but was pushed back by construction." - Ashok Selvam