Evanston has seen more weeks of no shortage of business changes. 4 Sands Fresh Juice has returned to its original location on Main Street and announced that a local artisan shop has opened on Dempstar Street.
I also enjoy some other local spots. Central Street’s Lapin Technology System changed ownership, name and name, and Nobel’s Nibble Cookie hit the first retail spot at Foster Deli.
Fire recovery
More than two years after the fire broke out at 4 Suns Fresh Juice in 1906 Main St., the facility announced it would return to its original space. According to the store’s Instagram, they are planning to continue selling juices, as well as expand their menu to include vegan dishes.
In February 2023, owner Gabi Walker-Aguilar found himself from work, meaning he was looking after his four sons, who were named by Juice Shop.
According to the GoFundMe page, insurance was launched two years ago to cover the remaining costs, with only $25,000 in repairs needed for the store.
Ande Breunig, founder of Evanston Magazine, launched Gofundme shortly after the fire to offset the personal costs of Walker-Aguilar and her family. We raised nearly $20,000.
Now Walker-Aguilar is able to open a store again.
“In 2023, I lost a juice bar on the fire. For two years I’ve been working to understand how I’m coming back… The time is here!” Walker-Aguilar wrote on his Instagram reel.
Although no start date has been announced, the 4 Suns Instagram account has instructed followers to continue tuning.
Local artisan shopping
Crafted, a new local artisan shop at 822 Dempster St., officially opened the door for sale at the party on April 4th.
Shopkeeper Maddie Sykes told Roundtable that many people came on opening night and were mingling shoulder-to-shoulder between the store and artists selling the product in the potential customers.
Sykes’Store offers highly local products, ranging from skincare to candles, ceramics and perfumes. Her shop also features custom made furniture samples, allowing customers to connect through the interior design business.
She had been in the design business for years, but only recently she pulled the trigger when adding a retailer.
“Small explosion”
“I was driving on Dempstar Street and found out that this space was available for lease,” Sykes said. “I think the light bulb went off, but it was like a small explosion in my head.”
She wanted to create spaces where local artists who are not often businessmen could sell their jobs and keep their money even more.
“It’s really hard to find an outlet to sell your own artwork, just like many galleries are cutting on a massive scale,” Sykes said. “I understand that there are overheads in the gallery and there are all kinds of operational costs, but that always seemed a bit unfair to me.”
Just a few months after seeing the free space in January, Sykes’ retail space for local artists was fussing.
She has already found many artists and sells her work primarily through Evanston Maids. Since opening last week, Sykes has received many inquiries from artists interested in selling.
She hopes that she won’t stay exactly the same as learning what items are on sale, and may cycle through a variety of artists to meet the kind of art, accessories and decorations that her customers are looking for.
“I create space for a variety of artists,” Sykes said.
Cookies are sold out
Evanston’s locally made cookie business has begun to expand into retail sales. Parti Bridgeman, Cookie Baker, owner of Nobel’s Nibble, brought his first batch of cookies to grow a deli at 831 Foster St. a few weeks ago.
She brought in a second batch at the end of last week. Because three dozen individually wrapped cookies were already sold out.
“I want to expand to other stores,” Bridgeman told the roundtable via email. “I’m a Main Dempster Mile resident, so it’s nice to find restaurants and shops that interest you, but they’re open everywhere in Evanston.”
Bridgman started the cookie business after being fired from her job last fall.
While searching for her next opportunity, she took a food safety certification course and began baking.
“I applied for a cottage food operation license in the city. It took a while (and a lot of posts from the Evanston Facebook group), but things are finally starting to gain a bit of traction,” says Bridgman.
“There are no challenges in brick and mortar stores, but I do my best to navigate them and build something sustainable.”
Hand exchange
Lapin Technology, Northwest Evanston, 2934 Central St., received a change in name and ownership this month. Previous owner Roger A. Knuth sold the spot’s business to “Jet Weiner, one of the company’s most experienced and reliable engineers.
A graduate of Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, Knuth began his Lapin system from his home in the 90s after realising that there were no MAC repair spots in the Chicagoland area. After working in the region’s high-tech industry for more than 30 years, he’s backed down.
Knuth announced the hand change to customers via email on March 31, and was changed on April 1.
Chicago North Shore Mac and PC (CNS) have taken over the support and services previously offered by Lapin Systems, but technician Weiner and all other Lapin employees are stuck under the change.
“We are pleased to be able to share that every other member of the Lapin Systems team is moving to CNS, allowing us to continue to rely on the same familiar face and high levels of expertise we expect,” says Knuth.
“In my personal note, I would like to thank you for your business and loyalty over the years. I’m sure you’ll be in great hands with Jet and his team at Chicago North Shoremac and PC,” Knuth said.
