Chicago's Englewood neighborhood recently saw the opening of a Whole Foods, Starbucks, and other retailers in a bit of a good news, for a neighborhood that's challenged by low employment and high violence.
At the corner of 63rd and Halsted, a new cluster of businesses are opening in a development called Englewood Square. Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz's story in the Chicago Tribune captures the significance of this development in talks with several of the nearby residents.
One of these residents, Sophelia Baptiste, will be employed in one of the 200 jobs the new commercial development. Baptiste remembered that her late brother, a victim of the city’s violence, had had a favorite Starbucks drink, a Caramel Macchiato.
Elejalde-Ruiz explains, "To Baptiste, who lives in Englewood, the unveiling of Starbucks, Whole Foods and several other retailers in the new Englewood Square shopping complex at 63rd and Halsted streets is a source of considerable pride during a bloody year in one of the city's poorest communities."
Elejalde-Ruiz also spoke to Perry Gunn, Executive Director of Teamwork Englewood, who commended the businesses for sending their executives to Englewood to speak directly with local stakeholders. Gunn went on to talk about the positive message sent by the businesses putting local faces in their stores. The story ends with a quote from Gunn talking about what these businesses mean to some Englewood residents. "Having the same amenities other communities enjoy makes the Englewood community feel respected."
Others in the neighborhood expressed greater skepticism about the wisdom of the developments, pointing out the disparity between upscale groceries at Whole Foods and the more modest prices at Aldi. But most, including the city's mayor, expressed their hope for Englewood Square's success.
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