Shopping for a good cause: Planet Access Company Store

As you may know and for those of you who don’t, Lincoln Square has some of the best and most unique shops around. Sweet Collective for the sweet tooth is amazing, and for those of you who love unique collectibles, Hanger 18 is a must. But for those of you who love clothing as much as I do will not be disappointed by what Planet Access Company Store has to offer. Not only is there something for everyone, but also all proceeds go towards a good cause, now that sounds like a good bargain!

Planet Access Company Store is a recent addition to the Lincoln Square Community, as it opened in August of 2010. I had the pleasure of meeting with Drew Lambert, the store manager and was able to learn a little more about him as well as Planet Access and its mission. Having been in this store before I was unaware and gleefully shocked of the added bonus in purchasing this particular clothing (besides the fact that it will only improve your fashion sense).

You may be as stumped as I was, but while meeting with Drew I asked him to explain the mission and story of why Plant Access Company Store is so unique compared to other high- end, quality retail stores.

He went on to say that the Company Store was an additional social venture that SEARCH, INC. created. SEARCH, INC. is a non-profit in Chicago for over 40 years that works with adults with developmental disabilities and has other social ventures, Planet Access Company being one, throughout the city. Planet Access Company, a warehouse in Waukegan, IL, offers logistics services to entrepreneurs as well as employment training and job opportunities to people with developmental disabilities. They have established relationships with many well-known brand names in the fashion world, such as: Horny Toad, PACT Apparel, Nau Sustainable Clothing and Kayland.

You may then ask what this has to do with the store itself. Well, Planet Access’ next social venture was to open up a retail shop with these brands (Horny Toad, PACT Apparel, Nau Sustainable Clothing and Kayland) that they have been in close contact with for many years. They chose these particular brands because they represent eco friendly sustainable clothing. In doing this, the customer benefits knowing that all the brands are socially responsible in some way; so not only will the customer feel good about their purchase, but also that all the proceeds go to aid the non-profit work that SEARCH, INC. does.

I personally couldn’t think of a better way to spend my money! After learning about the store, I was interested to learn more about Drew and how he became involved in this great organization. Currently a graduate student at DePaul University to receive his master’s degree in entrepreneurship, he was interested in being in a position where he could run his own business and work with a non-profit. Pointed in the right direction, he was soon in contact with SEARCH INC., and placed on board to help open and manage the first and only Planet Access Company Store.

When asked what his favorite brand of clothing Planet Access Company Store sells, he responded with Nau Sustainable Clothing. He described the brand as sleek, 100% sustainable clothing while still maintaining a high fashion function. The most unique feature about this brand is they design their clothing for cities like Chicago, especially the winter wear. They use a full design team that produces high-quality clothing that gives back to the environment. According to Drew, it goes above and beyond what other brands don’t- sounds like a winning brand to me!

I then asked why Lincoln Square was the best location for this store. Drew said that Lincoln Square is such a community-oriented neighborhood; it is very self-sufficient and the people appreciate local businesses and support local causes. This being true, he also commented on how everyone is so welcoming and the business perspective is very up and coming. He really looks forward to help Lincoln Square continually grow as a community and as a neighborhood in Chicago.

On his free time Drew enjoys biking on the lakefront trail as well as mountain biking. He is also really into music, composing, and musical composition. To get to know him and this amazing store better, stop in! Springtime is approaching and what better way to start off a new season with great looking, long- lasting clothes while giving back to help a great cause!

Posted by Maria Handberg

New LSCC Board Member -- Tracy Kellner

Not many people have a favorite grape. Tracy Kellner’s is the Riesling. Although this may not come as a surprise, seeing as she owns Provenance Food and Wine and it is pretty much her job to have an opinion on grapes as well as wine. When asked what sets the Riesling apart from any other grape, Keller declares that she loves the diversity of the fruit; that the wine it makes can be anything from the most complex dry to an extreme super sweet.

Similarly to her favorite grape, Kellner adds diversity as one of the newest members of the Chamber’s board of directors. As a previous board member of another Chamber of Commerce, Kellner brings experience to the table as well as a belief that it is every business owner’s responsibility to get involved with their community.

So why Lincoln Square Chamber we wonder?

Kellner tells us that she was amazed and impressed with all of the things the Chamber has accomplished for the Lincoln Square community. As a veteran board member, she was eager to be part of the positive things happening here in Lincoln Square.

On the lighter side of things, we asked Kellner what she enjoys to do on her days off. Her response: “Nothing.” After a little prodding, Kellner goes on to divulge that she loves to cook and lay low on her days off. She finds cooking very cathartic and affirms that she always picks the menu before the wine.

So be sure to pop into Provenance Food and Wine for a little European flair and some excellent wine selection. I know I will be back soon to pick up a bottle of my favorite white truffle oil!

Provenance Food and Wine
2528 North California Ave
And
2312 West Leland Ave

Submitted by Carly

A Sweet Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day Lincoln Square!

In accordance with the holiday’s theme of all things love, pink and sweet, I immediately knew the perfect business to highlight this week. Sweet Collective is made up of two separate businesses that come together to share work space. I had the opportunity to chat with half of the dynamic duo -- Lauren Pett, founder and owner of Rich Chocolates & Candies.

As luck would have it, I arrived just as she started boxing up a tray of her Valentine’s Day Truffles. An original recipe of Lauren’s, the Valentine’s Day truffle consists of real organic strawberries smothered in dark chocolate. As if that weren’t scrumptious enough, the truffles are rolled in red velvet crumbs courtesy of Angel Food Bakery.

Pett shares with me that she opened up Rich in 2007 after attending pastry school and working for a year and a half. Previously an art student with an unfulfilling series of office jobs, the idea to start a chocolate and candy making business came from Pett's desire to make people happy and a wish to make chocolate all day. After she, “got laid off before it was cool,” Lauren just decided to go for it.

During pastry school all Lauren really wanted to focus on was chocolate making. When I ask her if she works primarily from recipes or inspiration, Pett explains that chocolate making, like baking, is a science and that once the basic formulas are mastered, innovations and deviations can be made. So while Lauren works from recipes, she adds her own personal flair to every kind of chocolate and candy produced.

Speaking of personal flair, Lauren shares with me a couple favorite mouthwatering treats that she makes. She advises me to try the Honey Almond Toffee and the Honey and Sea Salt Pecan Truffles. Both of these sound to die for.

I wisely move away from the subject of sweets before I start to noticeably drool and ask Lauren what she does with her time off. She continues to package the huge tray of Valentine’s Day truffles and informs me that she is an avid Glee fan and loves to watch the Food Network. Since she loves food, Pett expresses interest in exploring the area for new restaurants and pastry shops. During the Christmas season however, Lauren is usually so busy at Sweet Collective, that her time off is spent cleaning and doing laundry.

I wrap up the interview with an inquiry about Pett’s favorite parts about Lincoln Square and the Chamber. Lauren smiles as she tells me that she loves how friendly and cute the Square is. She admires that the people who live and shop in Lincoln Square know what they want and appreciate quality. “This is a great community to have a business in,” Lauren tells me, “the Chamber is so supportive and businesses are so supportive of each other.”

It goes without saying that everyone loves chocolate now and then (or all the time). Lauren Pett caters to everyone’s basic chocolate needs with creative and epicurean confections. Her products can be found at Tracy Kellner’s, Provenance Food and Wine. I have also listed the website and contact information below with my highest recommendations as a self proclaimed chocolate connoisseur.

Website: www.richchocolates.com
Phone: 312.316.8683
Email: lauren@richchocolates.com

Sweet Collective
5333 N. Lincoln Ave

Submitted by Carly

New LSCC Board Memeber- Mary Kay Phillips

These days we all dread going into the bank to review our credit statements or to attend that monthly meeting with a financial advisor. In this economy what good news could possibly be shared? Well at MB Financial there’s no need to be worried if all the employees share similar qualities with Mary Kay Phillips, one of the five newest board members in the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce.

A resident of Chicago her entire life, Mary Kay has worked in the banking business for 16 years. Carly and I had the pleasure of sitting down with her and getting to know her a little better in her own element.

The first question we asked her was what interested her most about serving on the LSCC board of directors.She replied that Mindi and Melissa had helped her in the past, professionally and personally; she respects and values the work both Melissa and Mindi do for the Lincoln Square Community and would love to be a part of it.

Being a true “Chicagoan” Carly and I asked Mary Kay what her favorite part of the City was. Like many, she responded with the lakefront as well as the diversity of the restaurants. She also enjoys going to all the different museums and all the other attractions Chicago has to offer. Carly and I being new to Chicago ourselves, had to ask which restaurants she recommends; Pegasus in Greek Town, Lawry’s for an amazing steak and Gibbon’s is a must for a good time.

The last question we asked her was how she became involved in the banking business. She went on to say that she started immediately out of high school. Her Mom told her that she needed to get a job so that’s where it all started. Successful and living life, Mary Kay worked her way up the “ladder” to earn her position now, raving about how lucky she was to have such great mentors and bosses throughout her working career.

The Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome Mary Kay as a new member of the board of directors as well as the Treasurer, and like the others, we cannot wait to see what she will contribute to the new team.

Mary Kay Phillips
MB Financial
4800 North Western Avenue

Submitted by Maria Handberg

New LSCC Board Member- Ben Munro

Ben Munro


Maria and I were both extremely excited to interview Ben Munro of The Grafton. Apart from the actual interview itself, we were both glad for any excuse to go into a pub and not be carded for once; not that Munro didn’t jokingly threaten to do so of course. However, early afternoon on a Tuesday is not exactly what you’d call a “hoppin’ time” at any pub. In fact, The Grafton was closed. So Maria and I had the bar to ourselves as we sat down to talk to Munro.


Ben Munro has been in the pub business for quite some time. Now general manager of The Grafton, he began his career with a job working the door of a bar belonging to friends of his parents and worked his way up. His mother is English while his father is a Scotsman and Munro himself is well traveled and obviously connected to his roots. When I revealed my own Scottish heritage and plans on studying in Scotland, Munro wasted no time in giving me some places to visit.



As a former music student at DePaul University, I was interested to know whom he would want most to play at The Grafton. After a long pause he says, “Mike Doughty. Or maybe Soul Coughing” Naturally I looked both of them up and true to Munro’s account they are, “very very very cool.”



So what brings him to the Chamber you’re wondering?



Munro is very excited to be on the Chamber’s board of directors. He says that he enjoys being involved in the Chamber because of its proactive programs that help all of the businesses and foster a tight knit community. In addition to that, Munro figures it is always better to be in the know than out.



I encourage everyone to stop by The Grafton and chat with Ben Munro, or to listen to the live Irish sessions every Sunday evening at 5:00 pm!



The Grafton

4530 North Lincoln Ave



Submitted by Carly

New LSCC Board Member - Christine Moir

As I walked into Old Town School of Folk Music, I was greeted with a bright splash of color from the murals that cover the foyer. I was excited and nervous for the very first interview of the Chamber’s new Member Spotlight Blogspot. However, I was quickly set at ease.

Christine Moir greeted me with a big smile as I sat in beneath a brightly colored mural at Old Town School of Folk Music. As one of the newest board members of the Chamber, I was curious to find out what interested Moir in joining the Chamber board of directors. Moir shared with me that she was eager to become a member of the board because she loves the Lincoln Square community. She considers it part of her job to give back and work collectively with the businesses in the area.

In fact, the neighborhood along with a love for music is what drew her to Old Town as a career choice. Moir loves being able to support the community arts by working at Old Town. A three block walk to work allows her the luxury of a short commute as well as a constant sense of being a part of the Lincoln Square community.

Moir thinks for a moment when I ask her what folk instrument she would most like to play, “probably the fiddle,” she says with a smile. She tells me that she loves the fiddle because its fun to dance to. As a former violin player, naturally my next inquiry is regarding the difference between the violin and the fiddle. Moir reassures me that the only difference between the two is the style in which they are played, and she encourages me to come to Old Town anytime for some lessons.

Everyone is welcome at Old Town. So whether it be dancing or playing that interests you, or if you would rather enjoy the show from the audience, I highly encourage you to check out the Old Town School of Folk Music and prepare to be entertained!

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 North Lincoln Ave

Submitted by Carly

New LSCC Board Member- Anne Merritt

In an effort to introduce all of you to our new board members, brief interviews were taken place with each one of them. To break the ice, we came up with some questions for the new members to give you a taste of what the Lincoln Square community has in store for the New Year.

Can there really be a perfect cup of coffee, or a favorite drink? Or rather is the perfect cup the overall experience in the environment in which this coffee is served? Well, at Anne Merritt’s coffee shop, “The Perfect Cup” the experience of the environment, the quality and variety of drinks, and the attitude of its employees, in my opinion, truly makes it “The Perfect Cup.”

Anne Merritt, the owner of The Perfect Cup since 1997 has built this business from the ground up, establishing a family of customers, as well as exemplifying a prominent symbol of her life progress as she started as a thriving single woman in the city to currently a happily married wife and mother.

As we sat down with Anne we first asked her what interested her most about serving on the LSCC board of directors; when she was asked to join, Anne thought it was a great idea, that it would help her business a lot seeing as though she really supports and stands behind all the productive and effective things that the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce has done for the community. She felt that it was her turn to step up and give what she can contribute. While the “The Perfect Cup” isn’t located in Lincoln Square she hopes to attract more of the community over to her shop located on Damen Avenue by hosting and being a part of more events that the LSCC puts on. Anne also hopes that by joining the LSCC it will help to cross promote the other surrounding businesses as well, as they have become a strong neighborhood community.

On a less serious note, we then asked Anne,

If you had to pick a coffee drink that described your personality, what would it be?

She responded with “Anne’s special”- Coffee with an added shot of espresso, a hint of chocolate syrup and half and half as a topper. When asked why she chose that particular blend she said that it’s strong, sweet and bold like her.

Our last and final question was-

If you could spend a day in the Chicago-land area, doing and seeing anything you pleased, what would you do?

Anne replied that on a sunny day she loves to take her kids to a local park and enjoy her time outside with her family. Her favorite parks are Wells and Winnemac.

Head over to The Perfect Cup! Take my word for it, this quaint coffee shop won’t do you wrong with its many choices and friendly service. She is a positive addition to the LSCC board of directors and we are all anxious to see the positive contributions she will have on its success in the upcoming year.

The Perfect Cup
4700 N Damen Ave Chicago, IL 60625

Submitted by Maria