The Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association was proud to welcome Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and her team to our commercial district last Monday, August 24, for a Shopping in Solidarity event. Alongside representatives from Ald. Matt O’Shea’s (19th Ward) office, community leaders, and neighbors, the group spent the afternoon walking Western Avenue, shopping, sipping coffee, and enjoying lunch at some of the businesses that make our district special.
What Is Shopping in Solidarity?
Shopping in Solidarity is an initiative from the Office of the City Clerk that brings city officials, elected leaders, and community members directly into Chicago’s commercial corridors to spend money and shine a spotlight on local, small businesses. The program launched in response to the economic pressures many Chicago businesses are facing right now, from rising costs of living to families cutting back on spending. By bringing people from outside a neighborhood in to shop, meet business owners, and hear their stories, the initiative encourages Chicagoans to put their dollars where their values are — and to see, firsthand, how those dollars keep circulating back into the community.
Western Avenue in Beverly joined a growing list of Chicago neighborhoods to host a Shopping in Solidarity walk, following visits to Brighton Park, Little Village, and Rogers Park.
Highlighting Our Businesses
During the visit, the group stopped at several MPBHBA-area businesses along and near Western Avenue:
- Haven 1890 – a boutique owned by 19th Ward residents Amy Pilafas and Laura Hayes, who also own Schools Are Us in Mt. Greenwood
- Bookie’s Chicago – where a pop-up coffee cart from AndySunflower Cafe greeted visitors
- Running Excels
- Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co. – which hosted the group for lunch to wrap up the walk
At each stop, business owners shared what they’re experiencing in today’s economy and what it means to have city officials and neighbors show up in person to support them. As one business owner told the group, being part of the walk gave her shop the chance to reach shoppers from outside Beverly who might not otherwise find their way to Western Avenue — a boost that helps not just one storefront, but the whole corridor.
Our Thanks
On behalf of our members, the MPBHBA extends a heartfelt thank-you to City Clerk Anna Valencia and her team, and to Ald. Matt O’Shea’s office, for choosing our district for this Shopping in Solidarity stop. Days like this one remind us why local support matters: every purchase made on Western Avenue helps a small business stay open, keeps neighbors employed, and strengthens the community we all call home.
We’re also grateful to everyone — neighbors, elected officials, and community partners — who came out to shop, eat, and celebrate our local businesses.
Want to learn more?
And of course — the best way to say thank you to our local businesses is to keep shopping local. Stop by Haven 1890, Bookie’s Chicago, AndySunflower Cafe, Running Excels, and Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co. the next time you’re on Western Avenue, and discover what makes our district worth celebrating.