Left to right from top: Debra Kissen, Light on Anxiety | Megan Morrison, Love, Charlie | Terese McDonald, Candyality | Juana Ryan, StellaLily | Sandy Chen, Le Sud | Rita Alviar & Erin Haddock, Five Keys Yoga | Laura McMahon & Emily Janson, The Guild | Ali Reff, Alison & Wonder

March is Women’s History Month and there are many amazing women-owned businesses to celebrate in our community. Read on to get to know a few of them better with some fun facts, and check out special discounts being offered this month!

Fun Facts

Alice & Wonder started out of the bedroom of Ali's Chicago apartment and has grown into two locations!

Cubbington’s Cabinet exclusively features brands owned and led by women, BIPOC, and historically marginalized individuals. Most of our selection is for adults, and we also offer our own line of Pet Pantry products for furry companions.

The Guild features over 60 small businesses, brands of products made with fair trade principles, charitable contributions and/or minority owned. Their brands include small artists, artisans, designers and indigenous tribes. 95% of the brands are women owned businesses!

B Collective is a Latina/Turkish women owned business that serves love + positivity through nature's gifts and gifts for the soul.

Discover CBD Lakeview owner Melissa Potempa also owns franchises of Code Ninjas centers which teach kids how to code through game building. They learn Java, Lua, Unity and much more!

Love, Charlie was named after owner Megan Morrison’s late grandfather Charlie Arie. He used to hug her in the driveway and tell her that someday she would own her own store. She named the store after him as his way of signing off to the dream!

Candyality is a registered trademark. For 15 years the name and the concept of matching your personality to your candy choices is a one of a kind experience only available at the Southport location making Candyality a unique destination in the neighborhood.

Did you know that the name of Roscoe Village restaurant "Le Sud" means "South" in French? It’s pronounced "le sue-d".

Prepped N Plated’s protein balls were the first snack on our menu 5 years ago and are STILL the most popular item they sell.

Tutu School was founded as a single studio 14 years ago in San Francisco, by Genevieve Custer Weeks. Today, Genevieve is the proud owner of three Tutu Schools - Tutu School Chicago, Tutu School San Francisco, and Tutu School Larkspur; and is an equally proud franchisor and partner to all of the other Tutu School owners and studios all over the country and coming soon to Canada!

Konbini & Kanpai currently has the only Sake Club (think Wine Club but for Sake) in the city.

Named after owner Juana Ryan’s daughters, StellaLily began as a photography studio before launching the first mobile retail shop in the city! While the StellaLily Mobile Pop-Up shop houses plenty of beautiful and fun local arts and gifts, the bus itself has become an attraction. It began its life as a pace bus driving the streets of Chicago. They carry the handmade works of over 20 independent female artists. When you make a purchase on the StellaLily Mobile Shop, you are supporting women owned businesses.

Can you guess what Mind Chicago's logo is? Look carefully. The negative space creates a neuron! Founded by a therapist (Lee Wells) and neuropsychologist (David Meyerson), Mind Chicago loves how amazing our brains are. That's why all their therapists use relatable, science-based approaches to support kids and families.

The inspiration for Five Keys Yoga’s creation is also a woman and her daughters. Their specialization in making yoga accessible for all ages and abilities comes from Yoga for the Special Child, which was created by Sonia Sumar for her daughter, Roberta, who was born with Down Syndrome in 1972.

At Dear Margaret, the Nanaimo Bar dessert is based off a recipe by their namesake, Chef Ryan Brosseau's mémé, aka grandmother. While he grew up eating these cookie bars, owner Lacey Irby thinks they feel inherently familiar—even though she had never tasted them until she met Chef Ryan! What's not to love about a base of graham cracker, walnut, and coconut, topped with a custard icing, and finished with chocolate ganache?

Back in 2012 when The Sill's CEO and founder Eliza Blank quit her job to launch The Sill, she worked out of her brother’s office and paid him rent in bagels. As a female-owned and founded brand, they are excited to celebrate IWD with a spotlight on their female artisans and women-owned brands that they curate at The Sill.

Pioneer Realty Group is named after the college mascot at Grinnell College in Iowa, the Pioneers, where owners Helen Bailey and her husband Sean met.

Cathy Lancaster Gallery paintings were in the TV series “Nashville” featured in Raina James’ great room.

Objekt Architecture: An object is something that you can see and perceive with the senses, and that is how owner Kristin Fogarty approaches home design, focusing on how her clients live and use spaces. She chose the Swedish spelling of Objekt to honor of her Swedish Grandmother and what an amazing inspiring woman she was. According to the American Institute of Architects in 2020, only 17% of registered architects are women and many less are owners of architecture firms. Kristin is very proud to be one of them.

Did you know that Dr. Ria at Truly Chiropractic is a crazy cat lady? Guess how many she has... 6!

Winnie Cooper Boutique’s store name comes from the early 90s tv show The Wonder Years and owner Sandy named her Golden Retriever Winnie Cooper.

Ellie Thompson + Co is a wholly women owned business with Ellie Thompson as the owner, president and designer!

Stella Blue Design’s name was inspired off the Grateful Dead Song “Stella Blue.” Executive Designer & Founder Angela or “Angie” Gianfrancesco is a ‘Deadhead’ at heart. Many of her designs are named after some of her favorite songs ranging from the Beatles to Jay-Z to Phish jams. In addition to her studio + showroom on Ravenswood, the jewelry designer can be found selling her jewelry at local festivals in Chicago & beyond from her mobile boutique, a 1965 VW Bus. Follow @StellaBlueBus to see where it might pop up at a ‘Shakedown Street’ near you.

Left to right from top: Laura B Folkes, Holistic Health Coach | Melissa Potempa, Discover CBD Lakeview | Rachel Zorger-Glick, Ankle N Foot Centers | Amy Novotny, Arthur Murray Lakeview | Genevieve Custer Weeks, Tutu School | Alissa Fields, Eye Spy Optical | Melani Hoffman, The Green Lady Tavern | Alicia Obando, Pitter Patter Parenting

Discounts & Offerings:

Eye Spy Optical: $25 off all of our independent eyewear lines designed and owned by women.

Discover CBD Lakeview: 15% off retail.

B Collective: They will be offering fresh bouquets and highlighting female artists and makers in their shop all month long.

Cubbington’s Cabinet: Save 20% on their entire selection Tuesday, March 8 or save 15% throughout March 2022 when you mention this International Women's History Month discount!

Konbini and Kanpai: For International Women's Day, they’ll be doing a special $15 Women Toji (sake brewer) Sake Flight. All featured sake will be made by women tojis.

Love, Charlie: 10% of sales will be donated to International Women Associates on International Women’s Day.

Cathy Lancaster Gallery: 20% off their Custom Crossbody Tote Bags in March.

Winnie Cooper Boutique: 10% of the Empowered Women Collection sales in March will be donated to Sarah's Circle. Every Empowered purchase receives a raffle entry to a weekly basket of treats donated by Village Sweets owner Karen Lee.

Le Sud: Where there is a woman, there is magic. At Le Sud, they donate back to the Roscoe Village community through their Table23 charity program. Mention one of their partners when you dine with them and they will donate 23% of your total check up to $100. Plus, on Tuesday, March 8, they offer 1/2 priced Le Sud Signature Cocktails to celebrate International Women’s Day. They will also have a $39 3-course prix fixe menu for the month of March.

Laura B Folkes: 10% off the cost of her self-paced course, "Behind Your Cravings."

Prepped N Plated: Ladies10 will earn any new clients 10% off their first order!

Bolt Fitness: Ladies workout for free! Use the promo code BOLTPASS for a complimentary day pass.

Purrfect Paws: 10% off your first visit or walk during March for new clients in Lakeview/Roscoe Village

The Guild: featuring discounts on all women owned brands throughout the month.

F45 Training: Ladies Night Happy Hour Class on March 4 at 5:30pm, where women can attend for free. Additionally, they'll be running a clothing drive where the items will go to a local women's shelter.

Women’s History Month - Local Business Fun Facts and Special Discounts

Fun Facts

Discounts & Offerings:

Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture Survey

apply for The City of Chicago’s small business improvement fund for the Addison south district