Among the aspects on which the City of Chicago prides itself are its rich diversity and culture. That is never more evident than the large number of ethnic groups and the extraordinary collection of minority and women-owned businesses. Even more impressive is that many of these small businesses encounter more economic and social challenges, and more so during the coronavirus pandemic. To celebrate the diversity and culture of Chicago, here is a brief introduction to five of the best minority and women-owned small businesses to show your support in Chicago.
Chicago Small Business to Support
Batter & Berries
2748 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-7710
www.batterandberries.com
Expect a wait if you plan to visit Batter & Berries. But once you smell some freshly cooked items from the kitchen, you know it’s worth the wait. Established in 2012 by Dr. Tanya and Craig Richardson, Batter & Berries is best known as the home of the World-Famous French Toast Flight. But there is so much more to order. Other delectable treats include Green City Omelette, Pina Colada French Toast, and the “We’re Moving On Up” Executive. Limited dining seating is now available from Friday to Monday. Delivery and pick-up are available through Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash.
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BFF Bikes
2113 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 666-5153
wwwbffbikes.com
Launched in March 2014 after a successful crowdfunding campaign, BFF Bikes is Chicago’s first women-focused bike shop. It’s also reportedly the first of its kind in the entire Midwest. Located in the Bucktown neighborhood, BFF Bikes is the brainchild of best friends/competitive cyclists Annie Byrne and Vanessa Buccella, Like other notable bike small businesses, BFF Bikes is a one-stop bike shop, with road and hybrid bikes, apparel, accessories and bike maintenance. This trendy female-centric bike shop also offers group training rides and instructional classes.
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Parachute
3500 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 654-1460
www.parachuterestaurant.com
In a city full of outstanding restaurants, now and then, an exceptional spot elevates itself to elite status. Among those is Parachute, a small 40-seat restaurant founded by spouses Johnny Clark and celebrity chef Beverly Kim. The reaction to this hip restaurant with inventive, family-styled Korean-American cuisine was almost instantaneous. It was awarded Eater Chicago’s 2014 Restaurant of the Year and a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant.
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Serrano Legal Solutions LL
33 N. Dearborn St., Ste. 400
Chicago, IL 60602
(707) 552-0823
Established by Lisette Serrano in June 2014, Serrano Legal Solutions is a respected boutique law firm specializing in Family and Parentage law. Ms. Serrano is active in the community, serving as a volunteer attorney at First Defense Legal Aid (FDLA) and on the Puerto Rican Bar Association board. Serrano Legal Solutions offers reasonable billing methods, including a modest flat rate for consultation time in 30-minute increments.
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Soulé
1931 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 526-3825
www.soulechicago.com
Seating and take-out orders are currently available at Soulé in West Town. Known for its superb creole-infused soul food, this top Chicago small women-owned business is led by owner and Chicago native Bridgette Flagg. Opened in 2017, the Southern-style restaurant has attracted several celebrity guests. The list includes Scottie Pippen, Serayah McNeil, and Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson. Popular dishes include fried chicken, lamb chops, fried catfish, jerk shrimp, and dirty rice. The restaurant is open for reservations Tuesday through Sunday.
About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS Local websites, including CBS New York, CBS Los Angeles, and CBS Chicago. His other stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, Examiner.com, CBS Radio, Engadget and Radio.com.. He is a Media Fellow of Stanford University.
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