West Cook News

On March 5, a jury of seven Brookfield residents and business owners selected the inaugural cohort of vendors for the Brookfield Shops at Progress Park. After six hours of presentations by aspiring entrepreneurs, these vendors will open their retail businesses to the public in June.

"We are incredibly excited to congratulate the first-ever cohort of vendors for the Brookfield Shops at Progress Park," stated Brookfield Community Development Director Libby Popovic. "These entrepreneurs represent the heart of innovation and community spirit, and we are proud to support them as they open storefronts in our small-business incubator program."

Popovic added, "We wish them great success as they bring their unique products and services to Brookfield, and we look forward to seeing how they thrive in this dynamic retail space."

The selected vendors include:

- Rites of Wellness: Owned by Maywood resident Lea Afia Bempah, offering plant-based bath and body goods.

- Four Star Coffee Company: Run by Brookfield resident Gricelda Camacho, providing roasted coffee and handcrafted items.

- Frost with Us: Operated by Hickory Hills resident Sherry Imperial, specializing in cake-decorating kits and workshops.

- Organic Jewelry: Created by Giselle Cortes and Nestor Valencia from Brookfield, featuring jewelry made from recycled materials.

- The Shop Salon & Style House: A fashion venture by Kelly Stevens, Kelly Thompson, and Mia Obermeyer.

- New Book Joy: Managed by Chicago residents Mandy Genge and Connie Obrochta, selling books for all ages along with curated book boxes.

For further inquiries, contact Community Development Director Libby Popovic at 708-485-7344 or lpopovic@brookfieldil.gov.