Chicago Women-Owned Businesses To Support This Spring

via The Goddess & Grocer

Let’s hear it for the ladies! As a woman-owned company ourselves, there is nothing we love more than supporting other small, women-owned businesses around Chicago. Below are some of our favorite and most-visited women-owned spots that deserve your support not just in March, but every month of the year! 

The Goddess and Grocer {Multiple Locations}

Run by the Aussie Goddess herself, Debbie Sharpe, The Goddess and Grocer is anything but your average neighborhood spot. Sharpe opened her first Goddess location in Bucktown in 2005 after years of globetrotting and cooking for rockstars like Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones. Since then, The Goddess and Grocer has expanded to three locations throughout Chicago; one in Bucktown complete with spacious in-store dining and a rooftop patio, one in Gold Coast and one in the heart of the West Loop. The menus are globally and seasonally inspired, offering a mix of hot and cold meals, grab-and-go bites, freshly brewed coffees, gourmet desserts and a wide array of beverages including wine, beer + N/A options.

*All three locations open daily 7am-7pm*

Vanille {Multiple Locations}

Vanille Patisserie is an award-winning bakery that brings the spirit of France to the heart of Chicago thanks to the woman behind the pastries, Sophie Evanoff, who has been owner and operator since 2011. Evanoff’s menu features authentic Parisian delicacies, from fresh croissants and pastries to mouthwatering macarons and homemade cakes. Vanille boasts a grab-and-go counter at Ogilvie’s French Market and a dine-in pastry shop in Lincoln Park, with both delivery and catering available for all life’s special moments. 

*Lincoln Park location open daily, French Market location open Monday-Saturday*

via The Dearborn

The Dearborn {145 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL; 312.384.1242}

The Dearborn is a well-known, upscale tavern rooted in Irish heritage and led by Irish born sisters, Amy and Clodagh Lawless. The Lawless sisters’ lives have been rooted in hospitality since childhood where their parents ran a restaurant in Ireland for most of their upbringing. Since its opening in 2016 in the heart of the Loop, The Dearborn has been a city favorite for work lunches, pre-theater drinks and memorable meals. Their menu celebrates elevated American-tavern cuisine, including burgers, fish n’ chips and tavern-style pizzas with a robust beverage menu to match. Warm and welcoming, The Dearborn is a classic spot with a classic atmosphere; perfect for any day of the week.

*Open Monday 11am-9pm, Tues-Fri 11am-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-9pm*

Gene & Georgetti {500 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL; 312.527.3718}

Family-owned and operated with over 80 outstanding years of service in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Gene & Georgetti recently passed the torch of ownership over to Michelle Durpetti (granddaughter of the original owner!). Over the many decades, Michelle and her family have turned Gene & Georgetti into a culinary landmark in Chicago. Not only is it the city’s oldest steakhouse, but it is also a premier dining destination for hand-selected USDA prime cuts, Tuscan-inspired fare, robust wines and moody, authentic steakhouse vibes. 

*Open Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm and Fri/Sat 11am-10pm*

Kumiko {630 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL; 312.285.2912}

After years of bartending in Chicago, powerhouse Julia Momose has a place to call her own in Kumiko; an omakase-style bar + restaurant in the West Loop. Momose lets her Japanese roots shine in Kumiko’s menu, reinventing cocktails using traditional Japanese flavors and changing the omakase tasting menu by season to ensure only the freshest of ingredients. Kumiko’s design is elegant and intimate, creating a space to enjoy an unhurried and thoughtful experience.

*Open Wed-Sunday 5:30-Midnight (Last call at 11:15pm)*

via Bar Bambi

Bar Bambi {1703 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL; 312.366.2793}

West Town’s newest addition, Bar Bambi, is brought to you by award-winning bartender and Chicago industry favorite Katie Renshaw. Renshaw is no stranger to the cocktail scene, working behind the bar at prestigious Chicago establishments while also racking up numerous mixology awards. Bar Bambi’s pink, retro interior screams ‘girls night out’ and the eclectic cocktail-centric menu, focusing on intentional, playful + seasonal sips, is sure to make one round turn into three or four. Bar Bambi will be a neighborhood favorite in no time!

*Opened Feb 28 with complete hours of operation coming soon!*

Saigon Sisters {567 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL; 833.998.6885}

True to its name, Saigon Sisters is led by two talented Vietnamese sisters, Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen, who bring an authentic taste of South Asian cuisine to their West Loop restaurant.

Aregoni and Nguyens’ culinary inspiration comes from their mother and grandmother, both of whom ran successful food distribution businesses that serviced markets and businesses in Laos. The menu at Saigon Sisters blends traditional ingredients with innovative dishes that reflect both the sisters’ past and present including highlights like pho, papaya salad, banh mi and bao buns.  

*Open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-10pm and Saturday 12-10pm*

Demera {4801 North Broadway Street, Chicago, IL; 773.334.8787} 

Get your hands dirty in the most delicious way possible at Demera, a traditional Ethiopian restaurant led by the talented Tigist Reda in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Chef/Owner Reda brings her Ethiopian heritage to every aspect of the restaurant, which she opened in 2007. She has gained immense recognition in the culinary scene and community for her achievements. Demera’s menu highlights bold flavors, exotic ingredients and family-style, hand-eaten dishes meant to be shared amongst the table, making it an ideal spot for an adventurous group outing. 

*Open Mon-Thurs 4-9pm, Fri/Sat 11:30am-10pm and Sunday 11:30am-9pm*

Jennivee's Bakery {2925 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL; 773.941.7200}

Jennivee’s is more than just a bakery– it is an LGBTQ, woman-owned, late night bakery led by Jenne Vailoces. Vailoces learned her love of baking from her mother at a young age and uses her Vietnamese background to influence the unique flavors and ingredients in her menu. As a proud trans woman, Vailoces uses her bakery to passionately advocate for her community, featuring fun + festive baked goods around pride month (like her famed rainbow cake voted best in Chicago!) and servicing orders for LGBT marriages that might be denied elsewhere. Jennivee’s Bakery is creative, delicious, and welcoming to all!

*Open Tues/Wed 8am-8pm, Thurs-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-8pm*

By Robyn Glaza | Market Manager