My Chicago hosted by John Grafft

We listen to Tim Wurman’s story on operating and owning a family-run independent bookstore in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood located at the six-way intersection of Lincoln Avenue, Wellington Avenue, and Southport Avenue. Three Avenues Bookshop is a general interest bookstore open to all story lovers, and aims to promote literacy, connection, and engagement within our community, city, and beyo...

We sit down and talk shop with Gianna, the owner of Rebel Lash & Brow Studios (Rebellash) in the heart of Lake View. She has been an eyelash extensions specialist for 8 years and aims to provide only the best lashes and brows solution in Chicagoland. See full video interview link in our bio! #chicagorealestate #chicagoentrepreneurs #chicagosmallbusiness #eyelashextensions #chicagoeyebrows

Stuart Grannen, founder of Architectural Artifacts, Inc. (AAI) talks shop with us on collecting unique statement pieces and treasures while delving into his background on the passion. Following its 35-year legacy as one of the nation’s top destinations for globally sourced design and architectural statement pieces, AAI has reimagined a 35,000-square-foot Mid Century-style school to introduce its l...

We sit down with Mark Pomarico, Design Principal, and Andy Weber, Principal, at Booth Hansen and dive into the process and passion behind designing homes, apartments, and communal structures among other properties in Chicago and around the country. Founded in 1980, Booth Hansen is a nationally-recognized architecture, planning, and interiors firm. As a medium sized firm, they provide project and d...

We sit down with Dr Kelly Simms, ND, CNS, and breakdown her specialization in women's health and fertility. Dr. Simms and her staff provide Chicago-area patients with comprehensive naturopathic care, personalized service and an individualized plan focused on both underlying causes and end results. Dr. Simms views her role as that of a teacher, one who empowers and guides patients at every step...

We get into the nitty gritty of artists and the art scene with Fidel Rodriguez, owner of Artspace 8. The gallery, located heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, focuses on contemporary fine art paintings, prints and sculptures by emerging and established artists from around the world as well as a destination for those looking for something to hang on the wall of a Gold Coast penthouse. 

We sit down with Christopher Zwirn as he explains the process and beginnings of his custom signs, banners and vehicle wraps business while navigating the pitfalls of a small independent business. We also take a tour of the shop for an in-depth look at the details of the work while Chris discusses growing up in Logan Square. Thank you for watching My Chicago.

We sit down with Bucktown Built founder Jerry Rodman and discuss his passion for woodwork and the ups and downs of running a small business. Jerry launched Bucktown Built named for the Chicago neighborhood where he lives with his wife and two dogs while located in the Workshop 4200 creator space full of fellow local artisans.

Walk with us through a facility tour of and Bucktown Built provided by Jerry Rodman. Jerry Rodman launched Bucktown Built named for the Chicago neighborhood where he lives with his wife and two dogs, to establish a dedicated workshop in a building full of fellow local artisans, build relationships with trustworthy exotic hardwood suppliers from the US Pacific Northwest to Costa Rica and work with...

We chat with Konrad Koczwara, CEO of Elevated Living, and his all-in-one "Branded Resident App" that combines traditional operations with hotel style on-demand personal services and experiences at luxury apartment buildings while also discussing his upbringings as an entrepreneur.

We sit down with delicious drinks and chat with Cafe Deko owner George, an entrepreneur who decided to follow his dream and open a coffee shop that represents the true essence of what it’s like to taste a quality coffee and tea in a space which focuses the customer’s sensory experience with good company.

We sit down with Owner Art Potash of Potash Markets, local grocery stores that have been serving downtown Chicago since 1950 that is a family-owned local alternative to other major chains serving every day and specialty items in a smaller, easy in-and-out format.

We talk shop with friend and Chicago native Lauren Magiera, WGN News first female sports anchor and reporter. A former college athlete herself, Lauren graduated from University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communications and is a graduate of Barrington High School in the Northwest suburbs.

We explore the unique brands and clothing materials at this European clothing and gift store with Patrick Ford. Ford General brings high end clothing & wares from Europe and America to the Old Town neighborhood. They love meeting new folks and bring a warm and comforting atmosphere to their shop. Follow them @ford_general on Instagram!

We take a deep dive into family law with friend and attorney Jonathan N. Schatz and discuss what family law is and when you would need a family lawyer. Jonathan specializes in all areas of family law including but not limited to divorce, the valuation and disposition of marital and nonmarital property, maintenance, child support, parentage, custody, visitation and post-decree litigation.

We chat with Otoniel Michel of Estrella Negra and his approach to operating a restaurant from the ground up and getting into the food industry here in Chicago. Estrella Negra offers Mexican cuisine with updated flair located on West Fullerton Avenue in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago. Their walls and tables are decorated with Day of the Dead artwork for visual appeal and offer a variety of fl...

We chat with friend and President of Rick Levin & Associates, Inc (RLA) Rick Levin. Mr. Levin has been in the auction business since 1990, and worked in all phases of the auction business, ranging from a variety of real estate and personal property auctions, including vacant land; commercial office buildings; luxury single family homes; developer close-outs of homesites, townhomes, condominium...

We chat with friend and fellow real estate agent Kevin Rocio, a seasoned award winning veteran in the Chicago Real Estate Industry. With his ROC Advisory Group, he brings a vast array of experiences in all areas of real estate including Commercial, Residential, Financing and Development.

We discuss home birthing with Sarah Simmons of New Life Midwifery Services, a primary midwife since 1995. She has attended 1200 home births since 1990, drawing passion about letting births unfold in an instinctual way, and being a “lifeguard” to keep it safe. She believes a positive birth experience helps women prepare for motherhood and strengthens family bonds. She partners with families to prov...

We chat with Frankie Fabre of Fabre Media (https://www.fabremedia.com/) as he explains the nuances of building brands and retaining interest within the world of advertising as well as starting a business from scratch with little to no support.

We soak in the 90s nostalgia with chef Ryan Pfeiffer as he dishes out the highs and lows of opening this very characteristic Logan Square bar and sandwich shop during trying times. Big Kids (https://www.bigkidschicago.com/) is open every day of the week minus Tuesday, and offers dine in or to go services via Upserve.

Cocoa + Co. Chocolate Cafe is the place to celebrate gourmet chocolate in all its delicious forms, offering exceptionally crafted beverages, freshly baked pastries, a rotating selection of bonbons and confections, and an extensive collection of bean-to-bar chocolate from across the globe. Founder Kim Hack, a veteran of the wine industry, opened the café in 2015 In collaboration with nationally acc...

Neal Neumann, the general manager at mfk. restaurant, sits down with us and discusses in-depth the ins and outs of running a local restaurant in a volatile dining out market. mfk. is an intimate, seaside-focused joint that leans toward simple preparations of high-quality ingredients, in the style of Spain's Catalan & Basque coastal regions. It's open from 5:00pm - 9:30pm Thursday throu...

Dave from Maestro Restoration demonstrates how he changes a gross bathroom into a beautiful one as he restores the stone in my own from start to finish. Dave has 10+ years of restoring & cleaning natural stone, tile, grout and more. DM @maestro_restoration on Instagram or email inquiries to: maestrorestoration@yahoo.com. Free estimates & demos!

We sit down with Neal Bader, Executive Director at the Menomonee Club since 1987. The not-for profit Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls is dedicated to providing children, adults and families from diverse backgrounds with quality recreation and enrichment activities in an inclusive community that foster personal growth and skill development