Patel Brothers
Indian grocery store · West Rogers Park ·
Vast selection of Indian groceries, spices, snacks, and fresh produce
Vast selection of Indian groceries, spices, snacks, and fresh produce
"Patel Brothers, the world’s largest South Asian grocer founded in 1974 in Chicago, is noted for having never carried beef in its stores." - Ashok Selvam
"Shah laments the closure of Kamdar Plaza grocery store and cafe and the original Annapurna (the vegetarian restaurant has expanded to a large location down the street from its original quaint quarters). Both were regular chai stops during Shah’s visits with his father where they could also procure some salty snacks." - Ashok Selvam
"An iconic South Asian grocery chain founded in Chicago that many local shoppers find intimidating, cited in discussions about a shortage of accessible South Asian grocers across the city; its presence helps explain why some restaurateurs are planning small retail pantries to make regional ingredients (spice blends, tamarind broths) more approachable to a wider audience." - Ashok Selvam
"The eagerly anticipated, modern 7,000-square-foot Patel Brothers store opened with an invested $2 million structure that includes a bakery serving chaat, chapathi, samosa, and other snacks, replacing the chain’s original small storefront on Devon Avenue." - Naomi Waxman
"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
