Goose Island Shrimp House is our Small Business of the Year Award winner.

We were honored to present the owner, Lamon Eichelberger (pictured), with the award during Fall Fest.

This award recognizes a small business that has gone above and beyond in serving the community.

A fixture on Division Street, Goose Island Shrimp House has served delicious fried shrimp, frog legs and seafood since 1973.

For many years, the restaurant played a key role in supporting the residents of the nearby Cabrini Green Housing Complex. Indeed, many former Cabrini Green residents and families return to the shrimp house today.

Goose Island Shrimp House (1011 W Division Street)

Celebrities have also come into the area—Steve Harvey, Jack Black, Jamie Foxx, and Scottie Pippen to name a few---to enjoy their delicious food.

Lamon is a true inspiration. He started at the shrimp house thirty years ago as a shift worker, earned a promotion to manager, and about fourteen years ago purchased the business from the original owner and founder, Ed "The Goose" Polizzi.

Lamon cares deeply about giving back to the community. Last year, he and his family launched the first-ever Thanksgiving meal giveaway on Goose Island.

Within two hours, Lamon and his family gave away 100 Thanksgiving meals including turkeys, sides, and drinks.

People came from all over the city to Goose Island Shrimp House for Thanksgiving meals that might not have been available to them otherwise.

Lamon is currently working to make this event larger this year and is interested in partnering with businesses to make it happen.

Lamon and his wife, Tanya, are working to renovate a building next to the shrimp house to turn it into a shared kitchen. Their plan is to make this space available at low or no cost to teach children and adults how to cook and eat healthily.

The shared kitchen would also be available to aspiring entrepreneurs working to scale up their food businesses.

Goose Island Shrimp House regularly sponsors local youth sports steams and donates school supplies to Back to School Drives.

And if all of that is not enough, Lamon is working with North Branch Works and others to launch a foundation that will raise funds to support community-building initiatives.

Goose Island Shrimp House is so much more than a restaurant with incredible food. They are an inspiring and exemplary small family business.

Please join us in congratulating Goose Island Shrimp House on this well-deserved award!

Image credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Image credit (top): Anne Evans