Month: December 2019

Episode 27 – The Silver Room, Eclectic Retail and Sound System Block Party in Hyde Park

December 31, 2019 howsbusiness Fees, Growth, Licensing, Marketing, Red Tape, Retail, Zoning 00:14:01 Comments Off on Episode 27 – The Silver Room, Eclectic Retail and Sound System Block Party in Hyde Park

Eric describes doing business in Chicago as “exhilarating.” Despite being a natural entrepreneur who loves his city and his community, it isn’t always easy to navigate the city’s codes and licenses. How exactly did Eric go from peddling Bart Simpson t-shirts on the street, to a lifestyle retail space in Wicker Park and a move to Hyde Park, to starting a block party in Hyde Park that attracts thousands of people, to pop-up shops around Chicago?

Episode 26 – StellaLily, a Mobile Business based in Ravenswood

December 17, 2019 howsbusiness Licensing, Mobile Business, My first trip to City Hall, Red Tape, Retail, Self-funded Business 00:10:40 0 Comments

Juana describes doing business in Chicago as “frustrating”. She spent much of her life savings outfitting a truck for mobile retail, but how’s it going?

Episode 25 – Yolis Tamales in Gage Park, a Tamale Vendor

December 10, 2019 howsbusiness American Dream, Citations, Fees, Food Business, Health Inspection, Immigrant Entrepreneur, Licensing, Mobile Business, Red Tape, Shared Kitchen 00:12:39 Comments Off on Episode 25 – Yolis Tamales in Gage Park, a Tamale Vendor

Maria describes doing business in Chicago as “amazing”. Her business was recently formalized with the passing a street vending ordinance. Learn more about what street food legalization means for her.

Episode 24 – Robust Coffee Lounge in Hyde Park, a Coffee Shop

December 3, 2019 howsbusiness Economic Recession, Food Business, Health Inspection, My first trip to City Hall 00:07:16 0 Comments

Jake describes doing business in Chicago as “opportunity”. When the markets crashed in 2008, he found renewed purpose bringing coffee to the Hyde Park Woodlawn community. When he started the business, he thought coffee might be recession-proof. Was he right?