After Thanksgiving on Thursday, the beginning of Hanukkah on Sunday, and this weekend’s shopping deals, the holiday season is underway.
It’s a time marked by gathering with loved ones, delicious food and gift giving. Amid supply chain issues, some business owners told customers to begin shopping for presents and ordering their favorite desserts early.
This comes as many small businesses are still working to recover from closures during the pandemic, while also facing labor shortages.
On Monday, “Chicago Tonight” co-host and “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” host Brandis Friedman moderated the latest edition of our “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” community conversation series.
She was joined by Siri Hibbler, founder and chair of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, the Black Cook County Chamber of Commerce and the Garfield Park Chamber of Commerce; Lenore Lindsey, owner of Give Me Some Sugah Bakery in South Shore, which has been in the community for 13 years; and Peter Gaona, owner of ReformedSchool, a clothing brand founded in 2013. It has a storefront in the L1 retail store in Washington Park, and the brand is sold in stores across the country.
They discussed how they have been impacted by some of the issues facing so many entrepreneurs and small business owners in the city and across the country.
Upcoming Event
Our next “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” community conversation is set for 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20. Visit wttw.com/events to RSVP. Reporter Joanna Hernandez will talk with community leaders about holiday traditions in Chicago’s many Latino communities.