A new flower shop, a cafe, a door supplier, and a K-beauty store have recently opened or expanded in Chicago’s Bronzeville and South Loop neighborhoods.
Fleurish, a flower shop located at 752 E. 43rd St., was opened in November by Chatham native Chavon Francis. Francis left her corporate job to pursue entrepreneurship. The name Fleurish is inspired by both “flower” and “flourish,” which Francis said she hoped would evoke the idea of a double meaning.
“I won’t say we’re mission-based, but a lot of what we like to pour back into is, ‘How can we make the city flourish?’” Francis told Block Club.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, Fleurish has launched its holiday collection featuring hand-tied bouquets and larger arrangements starting at $75. The shop is also offering “party packs” for last-minute gifts and free engraving services. Monthly floral design workshops are available, with schedules posted on their website.
PGC Doors recently celebrated its grand opening inside HIRE360’s Training and Business Development Center at 2540 S. State St. The business is an offshoot of Powell Group Corporation and is currently the only minority-certified supplier of doors, frames, and hardware in Chicago. Founders Powell and Marceda have grown the company into a $3 million firm with projects throughout Chicagoland.
PGC Doors states its mission as aiming to “enhance the quality of life for seniors and families by creating safe, comfortable and beautiful living spaces through our expertise in construction, remodeling and the installation of high-quality doors,” according to its website. HIRE360 is supporting PGC Doors with rent-free use of a 4,000-square-foot warehouse during its first year.
Believe Cafe plans to open a new location inside Picnic Digital Food Court at 2537 S. Wabash Ave., expanding from Avondale into the South Loop early this year. Menu items include baked biscuit dough empanadas in flavors such as apple cream cheese; chorizo, egg and cheese; cottage cheese, black bean and cactus; along with drinks like cafe de olla—a latte made with cinnamon-cooked brown sugar syrup.
Over N Over Beauty has opened its third location at 850 S. Wabash Ave., occupying space previously held by Chase Bank. The Korean skincare retailer offers products primarily under $30, including popular items such as bio-collagen real deep mask ($6.95) and heartleaf pore control cleansing oil ($6.95-$21.95). This new South Loop branch joins other locations on Michigan Avenue (Mag Mile) and in Wicker Park.
