FARMZER0 Grows Greens in Vacant Chicago Offices

The Chicago startup uses empty downtown office space to grow produce delivered to nearby restaurants and residents.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Organic Food

Rows of leafy green plants in trays on a vertical rack under white grow lights, inside a converted office floor with a bare concrete window wall. — FARMZER0 grows greens in vacant downtown Chicago offices, using about 650 square feet of empty space to supply restaurants, caterers, and nearby residents. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you support using empty downtown offices in your city to grow food?

FARMZER0 grows edible greens in vacant downtown Chicago office space and delivers them to restaurants, caterers, office buildings, and nearby residents. The operation uses about 650 square feet of unused office area at one location.

Why it matters

Chicago's downtown business district has a roughly 25- to 30% vacancy rate, leaving about 45 million square feet of empty office space. FARMZER0 aims to address office vacancy alongside public health and food system challenges.

FARMZER0 operates on about 650 square feet of vacant office area, and Chicago has roughly 45 million square feet of vacant downtown office space. Chicago would need about 2 million square feet to grow adequate vegetables, and much of the vacant stock is in older buildings that are harder to repurpose.

The players

FARMZER0

A Chicago vertical farming startup that grows greens in vacant downtown office space and has received inquiries from other cities about replicating its model.

Blue Plate Chicago

A Chicago catering service that sells FARMZER0 produce to its clients.

The details

FARMZER0 requires only vacant space to run its vertical farms, with water running continuously to keep plants hydrated. Its greens are sold through Blue Plate Chicago's catering service and delivered to restaurants, office buildings, and nearby high-rise residents. The company uses less water than a fully functioning office.

Following the post-COVID return to the office, some empty office space was recovered, but not all.
The company hopes to partner with Los Angeles city officials for the 2028 Olympics.

Market Landscape

Chicago's post-COVID return to the office recovered some empty downtown space but left roughly 45 million square feet vacant, creating a reuse opportunity for indoor growers. FARMZER0's high-rise farming model is drawing interest from other cities facing similar downtown vacancy.

Chicago residents and downtown restaurants may see locally grown greens delivered from nearby vacant buildings. The model shows how empty office space could supply fresh produce without requiring new farmland.

The takeaway

Vacant commercial space can be repurposed for food production, offering a practical path to fresh local produce. Readers interested in urban food systems can watch whether models like FARMZER0's expand to other cities.