WHAT WE'RE READING
NEWS
  • La Sardine closes permanently after nearly 22 years in West Loop due to COVID-19 and a bad break [Chicago Tribune]
  • 11 best Spanish restaurants for tapas in Chicago [Urban Matter]
  • Developer planning 5-story West Loop building hopes smaller offices will be 'pretty attractive' post pandemic [Block Club Chicago]
  • WeWork scraps 2 Fulton Market leases [Crain's Chicago Business]
  • Time Out Market reopens with a depleted lineup [Eater Chicago]
  • Hotel Chicago West Loop donating partial room rates to Ronald McDonald House after looting incident [Cision PR News]
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: American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. Our work is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; champion clean air for all; improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and create a tobacco-free future. Read below to learn more!

Who are you?

Development Director


How long have you been in the neighborhood?

12 years


Why the West Loop?

We host our annual and largest fundraising event, Fight For Air Climb – Chicago, at Presidential Towers


What are your top challenges in growing your business?

Building new corporate relationships within our community


Why did you join the West Central Association? 

To create lasting relationships within the West Loop community that lead to new partnerships in hopes of creating a world free of lung disease.


What makes your business unique?

The American Lung Association is a charity built on trust and transparency, and is a proud holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Gold Star rating from GuideStar and membership in the National Health Council.
MEMBER UPDATES
Restaurants need technology to survive! Science is the IT helpdesk for restaurants. They deal with everything from spotty wifi on the patio to managing online ordering menus, so restaurants can focus on their guests. They're offering a free consultation to any restaurant that needs a little boost. 
Green City Market in Mary Bartelme Park is open Saturday's through October. We are practicing safe shopper guidelines and require a face covering in the Market area, please shop a 6 feet distance from others and observe our Priority Hour from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m., General Shopping from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Prefer home delivery? Shop Green City Market Delivered from the WhatsGood app for Wednesday delivery. Prefer nearby pick up? In the app select Green City Market @ Paramount Group Pickup, located at 1750 W Lake Street available Wednesday's between 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.   
EXPLORE GREEKTOWN
Learn about exciting events and happenings in Greektown Chicago. Sign-up to our monthly newsletter.
Celebrating 100 Years with Athenian Candle

Located on the southwest corner of Halsted Street and Jackson Boulevard, Athenian Candle has been a staple in the Greektown community for more than 100 years. The fourth-generation, family-owned shop traces its roots to Greece, and it is the oldest original business in Greektown. The shop produces thousands of hand-dipped beeswax and paraffin candles a week, from eight inches long to five feet high, and ships them to various Orthodox churches and other customers throughout North America.

On July 7, Sam T. Godelas, who ran the shop as the oldest child of a Greek immigrant family, passed away at 97. Sam sacrificed his dreams of being a chemist and devoted his life to the shop. He worked for the family business alongside his wife, Angela, until 1982 when he sold the business to his sister, Jean and brother-in-law, Thomas Paspalas, who continue to operate it with their children and grandchildren today. You can read more about Sam and his family in a recent Chicago Sun-Times article linked here. 

Join the community in celebrating Athenian Candle’s 100 year anniversary by visiting the shop today!
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