NEWS
- Artopia reopens in Chicago after a refresh [Chicago Tribune]
- Chronicling the Michelin Guide's 2021 return in Chicago [Eater Chicago]
- Time Out Market Chicago will reopen on June 17 [Time Out Chicago]
- Effort to Greenlight Scooters Permanently in Chicago Hits Pothole [wttw]
- Google's Fulton Market landlords cashing out [Crain's]
|
|
FEATURED EVENTS
Google Webinar: Sell more with an engaging email marketing strategy
Friday, June 4 at 11 a.m.
BACP Webinar: Media Basics For Small Business
Wednesday, June 9 at 3 p.m.
District 12 CAPS Beat Meeting: Sector 1224
Wednesday, June 9 at 6 p.m.
BACP Webinar: Chicago’s New Online Portal for Shared Housing Registration
Thursday, June 10 at 1 p.m.
BACP Webinar: Thinking About Launching A Storefront Business?
Friday, June 11 at 9:30 a.m.
BACP Webinar: Nuts and Bolts of Business Planning and Financial Readiness for Start-ups
Wednesday, June 16 at 3 p.m.
BACP Webinar: How to Open a Concession at O'Hare and Midway International Airports
Friday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m.
District 12 CAPS Beat Meeting: Sector 1232
Wednesday, June 23 at 6 p.m.
BACP Webinar: Business Transformation Post-COVID
Friday, June 25 at 9:30 a.m.
BACP Webinar: Keys to Business Planning
Wednesday, June 30 at 3 p.m.
|
|
Looking for a way to help your community? Madison Row business owners invite you to help clean up the street. This will be a casual clean up event. Meet at Smitten Boutique, 1047 W. Madison St., at 9 a.m. to kick off the clean up. Unlike the previous Madison Row Clean and Green we will not be working with mulch. This event is primarily designed to clean up any garbage we see on the street. |
|
Grow with Google Workshop
We’re proud to celebrate and support our local businesses. Join us for a free #GrowWithGoogle virtual workshop on Friday, June 4 at 11 a.m. to help you grow your Small Biz →
Once you’ve started selling online, you may be looking for new opportunities to market your products and services. Email marketing can help you increase sales by reaching customers with the right message, at the right time. In this Partner Digital Series workshop hosted by Google and Constant Contact, you’ll learn how to engage customers with well-designed emails, segment your customer base to deliver tailored messages, and track performance to refine your strategy.
|
|
Support our open local businesses! Check out our website for information on businesses open for delivery, pick up, live-streaming and more. |
|
NEW MEMBER PROFILE: Chikatana |
|
Chikatana is a playful cantina with menus that reflect both the vibrancy of Mexico's cuisine, as well as the Midwestern seasonal harvest. The restaurant’s open-air setting welcomes the revitalized, modern takes on timeless dishes that have blossomed from the culture’s fare — drawing from street carts, fine dining restaurants and everything in between.
A mix of Mexican flare and midwestern seasonal harvest, the menu features refreshing dishes and vegetarian options such as cauliflower chorizo tacos. All dishes showcase Executive Chef Guillermo Reyes and his philosophy of paying homage to culinary traditions of specific regions and his Oaxacan-inspired perspective. Chikatana’s cocktail program, led by Blaze LaRoe, intermingles with each dish from agave focused cocktails to wine pairings curated by General Manager Laine Peterson. LaRoe transports our guests to a vacation-like experience.
Chikatana will feature a 64 guest patio to create an open and airy atmosphere. Chikatana will offer a late-night-tlayuda focused menu with flautas until 1:00 a.m. Chikatana will soon open in Fulton Market District in June 2021. Read below to learn more about Chikatana!
"When describing Chikatana's bar program, Laine stresses "agave as the backbone of the bar" -- highlighting that cocktails will be crafted with Mexico's most prized plant in mind: the agave.’"— Laine Peterson, General Manager of Chikatana
Who is answering these questions?
Laine Peterson, General Manager of Chikatana
How old is your business?
Our restaurant will come to life in early June 2021
|
|
Job Listing: Great full time opportunity in West Loop with matching 401k, great benefits. |
|
Chicago: Home of House
The Catacombs at Epiphany Center for the Arts
Through July 17, 2021
Phase 2 Reception and Performances - June 12, 3:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Other Upcoming Events:
June 10 – 7:30 pm Chicago Jazz with Joan Collaso Quartet
June 11 – 7:30 pm Chicago Blues with Bear Williams Trio
|
|
Madison Street Books - help us sustain year 2
Of all the things I imagined for Madison Street Books when we opened last year, I never imagined creating a Go Fund Me. This weekend marks our 1 year anniversary. We opened on March 14, 2020, and closed on March 16, 2020, per the state and city's mandates due to COVID-19. The store went dark and those were dark days. We had no customer base and no ability to create one. Due to being open for less than a year we could not apply for PPP or any of the other government assistance programs.
Unfortunately, as we review 2020 and budget for 2021, we know that we will not be able to stay open without additional assistance. Were it not for COVID -19, a Go Fund Me would not be part of our reality. We believe in Madison Street Books as a business and we believe in the West Loop as a community. If you believe the same, please take a moment and donate to our Go Fund Me.
|
|
Dine alfresco in Greektown for Memorial Day & beyond
The weather in Chicago is practically Mediterranean—and we’re celebrating in Greektown with the return of patio season! Enjoy our patios and open-air dining and drinking throughout the neighborhood for this Memorial Day weekend and beyond.
Some neighborhood favorites include:
Artopolis has been our neighborhood bakery and café for more than 20 years, with a loft-style space and open windows for alfresco dining. Try their famous Artopitas with a traditional Greek coffee or iced frappe.
Athena Restaurant in Greektown has one of the best outdoor patios in Chicago. Raise a glass with one of their Greek island-themed cocktails or Greek wine from their extensive list.
Dugan’s on Halsted is the only Irish pub in Greektown, with open windows for alfresco drinking when you want a pint of your favorite beer.
Greek Islands is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Greektown this year. Dine alfresco on their patio while you enjoy traditional Greek fare from saganaki to dolmades, roast lamb, and moussaka.
Nine Muses Bar & Grill has been in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, serving authentic Greek dishes paired with craft cocktails and imported Greek wines. Enjoy their outdoor patio all season long.

Spectrum Bar & Grill is a friendly neighborhood bar with alfresco open-window dining and a Greek and Cypriot influence, a staple in Greektown for more than 30 years. A popular late-night spot to grab another round at the end of the night.
|
|
New business alert: Zen Leaf
Recreational cannabis dispensary Zen Leaf West Loop is the first Zen Leaf location to open in Chicago, located on Halsted Street in Greektown.
“We’re excited to open the doors on Zen Leaf’s first dispensary in Chicago and to be able to create jobs and generate retail activity in the West Loop,” said George Archos, Co-Founder and CEO of Verano. “Illinois’ cannabis market continues to experience significant growth as the economy reopens. We’re hopeful that Zen Leaf West Loop will be a retail destination that helps drive foot traffic to assist the neighborhood’s hospitality industry bouncing back after a very challenging year.”
Zen Leaf West Loop is located at 222 S. Halsted Street in Greektown. Business hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Online orders can be placed via www.zenleafdispensaries.com for same-day pickup in the store.
|
|
Chamber of Commerce representing businesses in the West Loop, Greektown, Madison Row, Randolph Street, Jackson Blvd., Fulton River District, Fulton Market, United Center Park, Little Italy, Tri-Taylor, University Village and Commons, UIC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
‌
‌
‌
‌
