Jay Michael’s FLATS Chicago bets on small apartments in old buildings
Cedar Street Companies’ Jay Michael saw a gap between luxury and bottom-tier rentals. FLATS rehabs older Uptown and Edgewater buildings into smaller units.
People
Profiles of the owners, artists, executives and neighbors shaping Uptown and the wider business world.
Jenn Kincaid is building Kiss Kiss Cabaret a home in Uptown
Theater restorer Jenn Kincaid and partner Chris Biddle couldn’t find a venue for their weekly cabaret, so they are building one in Uptown.
Jackie Taylor and the theater she built to fight racism
Jackie Taylor founded Black Ensemble Theater in 1976 after years of demeaning roles. Today the Uptown company draws audiences from across Chicago.
Roger Stark and Betsy Hill pitch brain training software to schools
The BrainWare Company, led by CEO Roger Stark and Betsy Hill, sells BrainWare Safari, a game-like program meant to build students’ cognitive skills.
Sunil Das moves Babylon from Bucktown to Clark Street
After a decade on Damen Avenue, Sunil Das has moved his Mediterranean restaurant Babylon to 4882 N. Clark St., adding a liquor license and more seats.
Marvin Korves went from Army translator to small business tech support
Uptown resident Marvin Korves, a former Army Russian translator and Sprint veteran, launched The SMB Help Desk in 2013 and hired 10 people in 14 months.
David Dastmalchian brings his film “Animals” home to Uptown
Actor David Dastmalchian lived for six years at Magnolia and Leland. He came back to shoot “Animals,” a film about a couple living on the margins.
Designer Isabelle Pantazis and the work behind the Uptown neighborhood guide
Graphic designer Isabelle Pantazis founded Hello Belle Studio in 2009 and designed a guide to Uptown. Why she and her husband chose the neighborhood.
Disability lawyer Rich Feingold settles into a new office on Broadway
Attorney Richard Feingold, who handles Social Security disability claims, moved his law office into the Bridgeview Bank building at 4753 N. Broadway.
42 Grams moves from an apartment supper club to a Broadway storefront
Jake and Alexa Bickelhaupt ran Sous Rising from their apartment since 2011. Their new restaurant, 42 Grams, opens at 4662 N. Broadway with 18 seats.
Rick Verkler’s Guesthouse Hotel grows into a neighborhood boutique hotel
General manager Rick Verkler says the Guesthouse Hotel, formerly Andersonville Guesthouses, will add 15 units and a lobby, library and gym in 2014.
Ric Addy and the bookstore that has outlasted Uptown’s hard years
Ric Addy moved to Uptown in 1971 and keeps Shake, Rattle & Read, a Broadway shop with roots in the 1966 Book Box, stocked with books, records and CDs.