Treasure Aisleland European food takes pride of place in one Chicago supermarket, alongside products from Asia and South America. Helen Gregory reports Treasure Island is an unusual name for a supermarket chain, but then Treasure Island has a pretty unusual offer ­ especially for the US. Its 35,000 sq ft store on North Clyborn Street, just out of downtown Chicago, is the biggest in the chain of six family-owned stores ­ the other five are a much more compact 10,000-15,000sq ft. It was built in 1987 and has retained the original look without any refurbishments or alterations. Treasure Island's USP in the Chicago market is its slant towards all things European. An old-style red British telephone box stands proudly outside the store to emphasise the fact and inside, huge flags proclaiming the names of different countries hang from the ceiling. A large percentage of the stock is not only European, but sourced from Asia and South America ­ alongside the all-American maple syrup and popcorn sits Thai curry sauces and German sausage. This is a big factor, according to store bosses, for local chefs using the store to stock up on unusual products for their restaurants. Busy periods are, typically, between 11.30am and 1pm and between 4pm and 8pm, with mainly families stopping by to pick up groceries, although singles and business people also frequent the shop. Spending ­ although most Americans don't buy trolley-loads ­ can be high because the surrounding area contains many multi-million-dollar homes. The average basket is about $40. Store manager Babe Magnus has worked for the company for 29 years ­ all his working life. He says: "Some people come in every day, or two or three times a week. "As far as eating habits are concerned, people like ready to eat meals more and more and sushi is proving particularly popular." An unusual feature is the addition of stools in front of the seafood counter ­ an idea picked up by the owner on one of his trips to Europe. Magnus says shoppers like to sit and chat to the fishmonger about fish who encourages them to try recipes and different varieties. It no longer has an in-store butcher however, because shoppers increasingly prefer to choose pre-packed meat, because of scares about food safety generally in the US. Organic food and drink is a big part of the store and large neon signs alert customers to the aisles where it is stocked. Treasure Island also tries to be particularly interactive and has a number of sampling points around the store. Customers are encouraged to try products such as jars of pesto and olive oil - with helpfully placed slices of bread to accompany it. The store has an "old-style" feel, with quirky boards featuring lists of famous American and European writers and sportspeople, and signage is printed on blackboards, complete with old-fashioned typeface. Horticulture is a big feature too, and the shop almost has the look of a garden centre from the outside, with rows of potting plants, along with a big floral display inside the entrance. Every employee is a member of a union and each pays a percentage of their salary into the union fund which gives them extra rights and protection. This association can make it attractive to some prospective workers but being a unionised store can present problems says Magnus. "Our sushi man left recently because unions got involved in an incident," he says. And young people are less interested in the perks, which makes recruitment a struggle with low unemployment in the area. He adds: "The company used to be owned by three brothers, and now one of them has taken the business all on himself. He hopes to pass it down to his children." Fixtures and fittings - Store size: 35,000sq ft - Opening hours: 7am-10pm, Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm,Sunday - Staff: 100 {{SPOTLIGHT }}