Yesterday, the Greg Hill Foundation and Grubhub awarded Parachute HiFi (3500 N Elston), Anelya (3472 N. Elston) and Brothers Restaurant (3000 W. Belmont Avenue) grants of $5,000 for the positive difference they make in our community.
North Branch Works identified this grant opportunity, brought it to each restaurant, and helped the owners organize, write, and submit their applications.
It’s a great example of how we can help businesses through our Neighborhood Business Development Center Program.
Parachute HiFi (pictured above) is a modern Korean restaurant in the Avondale neighborhood featuring owner and Chef Beverly Kim, one of the first people of color to win a James Beard Award.
Chef Kim is an inspiring advocate for the restaurant industry. To increase the number of women chefs and employees, she founded The Abundance Setting, a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship to women and covers the cost of childcare for program participants.
Along with addressing the gender disparity in the industry, Chef Kim’s restaurant was one of the first in Chicago to offer its employees healthcare. She plans to use the Restaurant Strong Grant to add a sign on the front of her restaurant along Elston Avenue.
Chef Johnny Clark, Anelya & Chef Beverly Kim, Parachute HiFi
Anelya started as a pop-up in Avondale with the goal of providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees and has evolved into a way to preserve Ukrainian culture.
Named after owner and Chef Johnny Clark’s grandmother, Anelya was recently added to the Michelin Guide. The restaurant is an important cultural business that produces dynamic Ukrainian cuisine.
Chef Clark is intentional about using his restaurant as a vehicle to create positive social change.
His staff is made up entirely of Ukrainian refugees who settled in Chicago after leaving Ukraine due to the ongoing war. Working at Anelya has given refugees meaningful work as well as a caring and understanding community.
Chef Clark will use his grant funds to winterize the patio space behind the restaurant so that it can be utilized during the winter months.
Brothers Restaurant is a minority and family-owned business that serves delicious breakfast and lunch food in Avondale.
The restaurant regularly makes financial donations to the nearby Carl Von Linne School as well as the local church and nonprofit organizations.
The owners, Nestor Hurtado and Laura Villegas, were recently featured in Chicago BACP’s Behind the Business License Series. This episode can be viewed here.
Nestor and Laura will use the award to purchase new equipment for the kitchen.
North Branch Works would like to congratulate our restaurants on their successful applications and thank them for being great parnters.
We’d also like to recognize the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, who provides the support necessary for wins like these ones.
Owner Nestor Hurtado, Brothers Restaurant
Image credits: Chicago Eater (top) & Michelin Guide (body)
