The expansion of Black-owned businesses on Chicago’s Westside will uproot the problem of disinvestment that continues to plague Chicago’s predominantly minority communities, according to the vision of Al Person, a Westside businessman and entrepreneur. Person wants to reimagine the current food ecosystem and is putting his ideas into action by preparing to open a grocery store and coffee shop in North Lawndale.

Person, owner of 3Kings Jerk restaurant, will open The North Lawndale Market located at 628 S. Pulaski Rd., which will sell fresh foods like meats, produce and deli items and even vegan and gluten-free options. The date of the grand opening is slated before the end of the year in order to finalize commercial arrangements with the city. His other establishment, Sugar Rush Coffee and Ice Cream Shop, will open at 620 S. Pulaski Rd. sometime in November. The menu aims to add sweet delicacies like boba tea and baked goods.

The weekly evening meeting site, where community locals gather to discuss topics relevant to food accessibility. (Al Person/Facebook)

A West Sider born and raised, Person’s work is informed by the “food apartheid” status the neighborhood and others alike have been written off as — observations that gave him the push he needed. He has been holding weekly community and co-op meetings on Wednesdays between 6-8 p.m., which are attended by community members and other business owners. He plans to continue having the meetings inside the future grocery store until it is officially open for business.

The community’s input is vital to Person’s business approach because he views revitalizing North Lawndale into a thriving commercial corridor as a collaborative effort. Through his establishments, Person hopes to see and inspire more commercial investment to reflect the potential of local “black-owned businesses.” Even after the grand openings, Person still wants to provide an open platform for residents to collectively strategize local work towards community improvement.

“We [discuss] economic, social, and cultural changes that we would like to see within our community and amongst our people,” Person said.

On Oct. 21, he published a Facebook post to start an online fundraiser to buy and convert the vacant space of the former Aldi location in Garfield Park on 3835 W. Madison St. into a cooperative grocery store that would bridge the gap where supermarkets and food establishments at large have failed.

Aldi’s abrupt, no-notice closure on October 15 geographically exacerbated food accessibility, leaving local families already devastated with a shortage of healthy, affordable, and fresh food options. This sparked a rally at the Aldi headquarters on Oct. 28, 2021, reported Block Club Chicago, which called for Aldi to sell its building to a grocer to maintain quality sources of food.

The grocery store is almost nearing completion. More equipment arrives to add the last physical touches. (Al Person/Facebook)

The only standing grocery store within the direct service area is a Save-A-Lot located at 420 S. Pulaski Road.

The way large food establishments like Aldi pull out from the community reflects corporate disinvestment, according to Stacey Sutton, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

“They are making a set of decisions that are punitive decisions,” Sutton said. “Low-income people spend their resources to get somewhere.”

Person is partnering with Pembroke Farmers Cooperative, members of the National Black Farmers Association, as his grocery store food supplier from southern Illinois. Person hopes by adding them to his business network will make his store more sustainable as North Lawndale residents would resonate more with a community-run food enterprise who is by and for the black community.

Although the cooperative sells their food to various Chicago food markets, Person adds they still lack a huge outlet they could wholesale their fruits and vegetables to. It was therefore an opportune time for North Lawndale Market to become their outlet. More importantly, he wants to shed light to the cooperative’s innovative food gardening methods of creating small wooden grow boxes as a healthier and organic way for the local community to grow and consume more “wholesome and home-cooked meals.”

Sugar Rush will address the need to access more places to indulge in different coffee options without residents having to leave the neighborhood. North Lawndale has an abundance of coffee shops, from the recently opened Beelove Cafe at 1111 S. Homan Ave. to Lawndale Christian Health Center’s Green Tomato Cafe at 3750 W. Ogden Ave., Sugar Rush will soon become an additional destination. Coffee and ice cream are increasingly becoming a natural pairing and Sugar Rush will embrace this as their business concept. Nutrition will also drive the menu in offering healthier sweets choices that are just as delicious.

Carving out food initiatives like Person’s grocery store and coffee shop illustrates the need to build a healthier North Lawndale that’s rooted in community partnerships.

“We have all the necessary tools and resources we need to save ourselves,” Person said. “We just need to combine them.”

Person is currently accepting applications for apprentices looking to support ownership for his two businesses, as well as other positions. Resumes, certifications, and any general inquiries can be emailed to aperson.3kingsjerk@gmail.com.

West Side Businessman Opening New North Lawndale-based Grocery Store and Coffee Shop