A look at Westside businesses a year into the pandemic
“Graphic of Out of The Past Records shop as background, (from left to right) Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the pies, Alexie Young of Art West, and Bobby Price of Principle Barbers”
The Westside of Chicago’s small business owners are persevering in the face of the pandemic despite having the largest number of positive COVID-19 tests amongst community members.
The Business Interruption Grant program as well as the Small Business Accelerator grant program has given small business owners in underfunded communities economic help during the coronavirus pandemic.
Most of the awardees of the Small Business Accelerator grant program are from Chicago’s Westside, and several include Southside businesses.
Yet, an economic decline is not the only stressor to these small businesses but also the rising positive cases of COVID in Chicago’s Westside neighborhoods.
The following are some prominent and new local businesses a year into the coronavirus pandemic:
Principle Barbers:
Principle Barbers, located in the North Lawndale neighborhood and owned by Bobby Price, emphasizes one of its core values - community - by being a place in which residents with all sorts of interests can not only get professional services but also engage with members of their community who may or may not hold similar interests.
Due to restrictions, events like networking mixers or entertainment events surrounding community member’s culture, can no longer take place and Price is also limited to taking in and conversing with customers.
Throughout the pandemic Principle Barbers has participated in events supporting the West Side community of Chicago, which included the Census 2020 Free Cuts and Styles event and an all-day screening from local artists for Black Independence Day.
Both events hosted during the pandemic required RSVP.
Principle Barbers is a recipient of a 2020 marketing partnership of the Chicago Bears and Proven IT.
The award consists of $100,000 as well as a technology assessment which consist of developing and renovating the use of technology to benefit the business.
Address: 3820 Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60623
“Graphic of Principle Barbers store front and owner Bobby Price”
Image courtesy of Facebook
Art West:
Art West, started by Alexie Young and considered part of all areas of the west side community, focuses on acknowledging the local creative community and bringing them together in order to shape and strengthen the Westside through arts and culture.
Art West, which opened amidst the pandemic, now holds events online through their Facebook page as well as open reservations for romantic dinners in their Austin location.
“We were able to operate at 25% of our capacity in the space, which worked really well for us because it was able to help build a more intimate rapport with the guest,” Young said.
Having to shift from community gatherings to a virtual environment, Art West has created a newsletter to keep in contact with the community as well.
In order to bring in revenue they have recently launched a reservation-only dining experience at the gallery.
“You can get really creative on how you engage,” Young said when discussing the virtual sip and paint class Art West hosted.
Although they have not received any government funding, Art West is a recipient of a West Side United grant.
“That grant will help us get back to a place of security,” Young said.
Art West is planning on hosting a virtual art gallery sometime in the following months where art can be purchased.
Address: 750 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Graphic of Art West Logo over one of their events
Images courtesy of Facebook
Out of the Past Records:
Out of the Past Records, owned by Marie Henderson and her husband, is located in the Garfield Park neighborhood driving a focus on the importance of music and emphasizes the feeling of an older Chicago.
Drawing in the younger generations with a never ending selection of vinyls and 8-tracks, Out of the Past Records is currently being run by Marie’s granddaughter, Gemini.
During a pre-COVID summer, Marie Henderson would set up shop outside of the storefront front with boxes of vinyls as passersby would stop and take a look.
Now, most of their activity is heard through their radio station which plays older hits or as they like to call them, Dusties.
“The community is helping me stay open because I’m not getting anything from the government,” Henderson said.
Although still open to customers, many now contact the store to check availability of records.
Address: 4407 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60624
Out of The Past Record store front as background with images from their products as well as owner, Marie Henderson
Images courtesy of Facebook
Justice of the Pies:
Justice of the Pies, owned by Maya-Camille Broussard and part of the Garfield Park neighborhood, holds true to its name.
Broussard uses her business not only to provide a delightful treat, but with every sweet bite comes its rewards as the business drives an emphasis on equality, growth and improvement.
Besides the mouthwatering pies, cooking classes were an outlet in which not only community members but others could join and collaborate as well as funding projects with the partnership of the Cabrini Green Legal Aid.
The yearly “Pie Drive” which takes place in a social environment is replaced by partnerships with companies like Baileys and Capital One to donate and support small businesses.
Black Women’s Blueprint is one of the organizations that received financial aid through Justice of The Pies’ partnership.
During the holiday season, in order to maintain business, Justice of the Pies offered flight delivery of their pies.
Address: 135 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
owner by Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pies portrayed in the middle of events and pies graphic
Images courtesy of Facebook , Instagram and JUSTICE OF THE PIES