Retailer Messages to Politicians

Self-service coin laundry. Dry cleaning. Alterations. Pickup and delivery for residential and commercial accounts. They offer a full slate of solutions at All-In-One Laundry Center & Services to customers who want their clothes cleaned in Springfield, Illinois.

As an African American business owner, Pamela stressed that there are hurdles in Illinois to operating a brick-and-mortar.

“What I want the politicians to know about running a retail business, with a minority business there are barriers. There are challenges,” urged Pamela with an emphatic tone. “The politicians need to know that we are here. We are vital in our communities.”

The Silver Room | Chicago, Illinois

When Eric Williams founded The Silver Room in 1997, he envisioned an innovative retail space where local designers would be featured inside a brick-and-mortar that is part clothing boutique, part music venue, part community hub, and part artist studio.

Located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, which has long played an elevated role as a cultural and political center for the cities’ African American community, Williams has a message he wants Illinois legislators to hear about being a retailer in the state.

“I want politicians to know that small business owners, we don’t go into this to become billionaires. People I know who started retail businesses usually left the job that they hated. They took their 401(k) or borrowed money from friends and family. Went into debt. You’re going into debt to do this. It’s not something you’re doing to become wealthy for the most part. It’s a passion you have inside of you to be creative.”

Sprinkle & Spoon | Galesburg, Illinois

Cantaloupe Cutie. Wild Strawberry. Cotton Candy. Lemon. Key Lime Pie. Maple Cookie Crunch. Cookies & Dreams. Mint Chip. And a whole lot more. The sweet treats run the full rainbow at Sprinkle & Spoon in Galesburg, founded in by Lora Barajas in 2019 as an allergy-free frozen alternative to ice cream.

Sprinkle & Spoon is now a brick-and-mortar family operation in downtown Galesburg, co-owned by Laura’s brother, Gabriel Wynkoop and her sister, Janina Glass, who wants legislators in Illinois to know more about the challenges of retail ownership in the state.

“Sometimes I feel like nobody’s trying harder to put us out of business than the state of Illinois, honestly. And the local municipality, too. They will come along to make sure that we’ve paid our dues and everything. There’s no one that comes along that makes sure we’re doing okay,” stated Janina.

Internode Greenery & Home | Joliet, Illinois

Michelle Arana-Bianchi works hard to make her customers familiar with everything she sells at Internode Greenery & Home and Joliet. Whether it is flowering plants, prayer plants, tropicals or hanging baskets, Michelle wants you to know she has you covered and then some for houseplants, fresh and cut floral arrangements, and plants for home and office decoration.

She wants the legislators in the state to know that it takes hard work to run a small retail business in Illinois, and that brick-and-mortars are an indispensable part in the engine of every community.

“I’d like the politicians in Illinois to recognize how vital small business is to not only our community but to our state,” stressed Michelle. “We are the backbones of the community. We are the place where people come, and they want us to donate to their softball teams. They have fundraisers. They ask us to help out. We are the one going to these places, to the schools, to encourage kids.”

Bird’s Nest Knit & More | Macomb, Illinois

Yarn. Fiber hobby supplies. Hooks, notions, and needlework. There are no strings attached to all the merchandise for sale at Bird’s Nest Knit & More in Macomb, but there is certainly plenty of string available. The store, owned by Jackie Sullivan, pays tribute to Sullivan’s late mother-in-law, Byrda, who was referred to lovingly as Birdie, and loved all things about crafting.

Jackie says in the eight years she has owned the store, she has not turned a profit. She stresses that she operates this business because it provides a much needed outlet for people who are passionate about fiber arts.

“What I’d like the politicians of Illinois to know about small retail is we’re not here to scam anybody. We’re not trying to dodge laws. We’re just trying to provide a comfortable space or in some cases, a product that’s needed. And we’re just trying to be good people.”

JT’s CarmelKorn Station | Galesburg, Illinois

There seems to be a flavor for every lover of popcorn at JT’s CarmelKorn Station in Galesburg, where the sweet smell of sugar and cooked butter hits you as soon as you walk in the door.

Owner Jackie Turner said she employs a small team of retirees who work a couple days a week at the store, and that her employees work for her “just to get out of the house.” And so, she says the minimum wage law in Illinois weighs heavily on her small brick-and-mortar.

“What I want the politicians of Illinois to know is that they need to pay attention to small business. It’s a hard business. It’s not an easy business. And some of the rules that they need for these large companies, they don’t fit for a small business, and they have to keep that in mind and they have to listen.”

Luckeyia’s Balloons & Distribution | Homewood, Illinois

Whether you are having a party or hosting a corporate event, Luckeyia’s Balloons & Distribution in the city of Homewood in the south suburbs of Chicago, works to meet the wishes of customers with transformational event decorations.

Luckeyia Murry, owner, said she loves what she does because balloons lift the heart, whether you are someone who is celebrating or someone who is grieving. But she did note that she does not feel lifted in support by legislators in Illinois.

“I feel the government don’t understand that we as a small business, we are really helping the community. We are building the community. We are encouraging the community to stay connected.”

Mestiza | Chicago, Illinois

In the Pilsen Neighborhood, widely considered the heart of Latino Chicago, Mestiza is a Latinx-themed gift store founded in 2004 by Lorena Almanza and Sugieri Martinez. They picked the name of their brick-and-mortar to reflect their racially mixed lives, which is proudly embodied by the jewelry, accessories, clothing, and handmade local artisan merchandise sold at their store.

When asked about a message she would like to convey to legislators in Illinois, Sugieri answered without hesitation.

“I would encourage the lawmakers to think about small businesses when passing laws and creating budgets, because when they help a small business, they’re not just uplifting the business itself but they’re uplifting an entire community,” Sugieri said.