New Produce Store Opens Friday

Brandon Graves’ new business is in his blood.

Like his parents before him — and his grandfathers on both sides — the 23-year-old Plainfield resident is in the produce game.

On Friday, his first brick-and-mortar business venture, , will open at 15412 S. Route 59. The location previously housed a dentist's office and .

“It’s really exciting,” said Graves, who chatted with Patch on his way to the Chicago Produce Market to pick up farm-fresh fruits and veggies for the store’s opening day.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to open my own business,” he said. “I didn’t think it’d happen until later in life.”

Located next to , Peter Rubi will offer fresh produe and select all-natural, organic grocery items, Graves said.

He said the store will bring back the feel of an old-fashioned market.

“It’s like you walked back 100 years in the store, and yet we have fresh, contemporary produce,” he said.

While Graves may be young — he’ll be 24 in July — he’s no stranger to the business, or to Plainfield.

“I’ve been in and out of Plainfield since 1993,” he said. As a teenager, Graves also sold produce at the .

Eventually, Graves said, he hopes to link up with local farmers to offer truly home-grown produce at his store.

“The plan is that we want to get local farmers into the store,” he said. For now, the store uses produce from the Chicago Produce Market.

“It’s all fresh daily,” Graves said.

Peter Ruby Produce Market is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.  

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