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Made In Chicago: Chicago Gift Box

CHICAGO (CBS) -- When many of Marty Groark's friends moved away from the Windy City, he noticed something in particular.

"I realized every time I would go to visit them, they'd say 'Can you bring me a couple boxes of this, a couple boxes of that?'" he said.

So he started thinking of the things that are unique to Chicago.

"I thought back to iconic Chicago items either that I remembered from my childhood or when people come to Chicago, the big companies everybody thinks about," he said.

He compiled a list, then offered a few box sizes and he had the perfect Chicago care package.

"Jay's Potatoes Chips, we needed Chicago mix popcorn so we chose Okee Dokee, Fannie May obviously, Green River was born in Chicago," said Groark.

Marty Groark
(Credit: Lisa Fielding)

From Jay's potato chips to Andes mints, from Cracker Jack to giardiniera, if you're homesick, The Chicago Gift Box is just what the doctor ordered.

"They really appreciate getting something they can't get where they live," he said.

Chicago Gift Boxes can be filled with anything from Salerno butter cookies, to Tootsie Rolls, to Sweet Baby Ray's Barbeque Sauce to Chicago Style Green Relish and even nonperishable items from Manny's Deli and Vienna Beef. Chicago sports team memorabilia and items like sunglasses covered by the city's flag design also are available.

"Half the box is food and other half can be prideful stuff such as the Chicago Flag which is really popular to shot glasses of your favorite sports team," he added.

The company was born a year ago. Since then, Groark says they've shipped more than a thousand boxes all over the world.

"We've shipped to Croatia, France, Thailand, England and even overseas to the military."

Groark packs the boxes himself and is a graphic designer by trade, but hopes his side business will expand in year two.

"I definitely have ideas now that the concept has been proven. I think we can open in other cities. So that's the goal for this upcoming year," he said.

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Groark says he gets some unusual requests.

"Some people ask me to go to Jewel and pick me up this kind of marinara sauce," he laughed, but he said he is always looking to expand his list. "I'm not opposed to it. I like new ideas because it may give me new things that we could add to the box. We'd be happy to consider anything if there is enough interest."

Groark said there are things that can't exactly be shipped.

"Someone asked me if I could put in a Portillo's beef in there and I tell them it'll never make it," he laughed. "I've also had requests for Old Style or Malort but we aren't allowed to ship alcohol."

He said the feedback, so far, has been great.

"Everyone loves it," he said.

A taste of home, Chicago style. Chicago Gift Box can be found online and on Facebook and Twitter.

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