Atavia Reed

1 week ago | blockclubchicago.org | Atavia Reed

AUBURN GRESHAM — Darkened skies cleared for sunshine Wednesday as Tatiana Williams welcomed local officials and community leaders to the groundbreaking ceremony for her first flower shop. Tati’s Floral, a Black-woman-owned flower shop, will open at 1415 W. 79th St. in six months, Williams said Wednesday. The business will replace a beauty and barber shop in the long-vacant building, which Williams bought through the Cook County Land Bank in 2022.

1 week ago | blockclubchicago.org | Atavia Reed

AUBURN GRESHAM — More than 20 years after establishing roots on Auburn Gresham’s 79th Street corridor, a family-owned restaurant has expanded from a no-frills business to a newly designed bar and grill. With a pop of confetti, owner Peter McKnight and local leaders last week marked the official grand opening of Jamaican Jerk Villa Bar & Grill. The restaurant at 642-648 W. 79th St. opened its indoor and patio seating to guests in September.

2 weeks ago | blockclubchicago.org | Atavia Reed

ENGLEWOOD — Plans to build the E.G. Woode Food Hub, a dining development on 63rd Street, are moving ahead months after project leaders faced funding delays from city officials. Scaffolding surrounds the dilapidated building at 1022 W. 63rd St. as leaders at E.G. Woode — a collective of architects, designers and entrepreneurs — work to transform the century-old building into a culinary destination.

2 weeks ago | blockclubchicago.org | Atavia Reed

WEST ENGLEWOOD — A dilapidated home has been transformed into a healing space in Englewood, bringing everything from wellness services, mental health care support and plant-based cooking lessons to the community. Imagine Englewood If celebrated the grand opening of the Healing House late last week. Leaders of the youth services organization cut a green ribbon, the color of mental health awareness, to mark the achievement. The Healing House, 6421 S.

3 weeks ago | blockclubchicago.org | Atavia Reed

CHICAGO — There’s a scene in Ryan Coogler’s new film, “Sinners,” that defies time and space as it floats through musical genres and captivates characters on the screen. Sammie (portrayed by newcomer Miles Canton) is strapped with his 1932 Dobro resonator guitar and asked to play a song for the crowd at his cousins’ vibrant new juke joint. After a stint in Chicago, Sammie’s twin cousins, Smoke and Stack (a dual role played by Michael B. Jordan), have just opened Club Juke in Clarksdale, Miss.