Small Business Saturday In Beverly/Morgan Park/Mt. Greenwood

CHICAGO, IL -- Over the past decade, the Small Business Saturday movement has been used as a way to promote local retailers in response to many of the big-box stores opening on Thanksgiving and throughout the day on Black Friday. Celebrated two days after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday has gained steam every year across the country.

The already strong small business communities in Beverly Hills, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park have embraced the day as much as anyone. This year, there's even more incentive for residents of these neighborhoods to support their neighborhood businesses.

Caroline Connors, executive director of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, said the MPBHBA is partnering with the 95th Street Business Association and the Mt. Greenwood Community and Business Association on organizing a scavenger hunt that will reward shoppers who hit up at least five of the 59 cherished local businesses taking part in the event this year.

Saturday shoppers can pick up guide maps of the businesses taking part at the stores and will have to perform an activity or answer a question that's specific to the local business. If they do this at five locations and get signatures from the business owner or employee at each, their name will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card. Maps can be found here.

Those who fill out their maps during Saturday's festivities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. must turn them in at either the Beverly Review, 10546 S. Western, Southtown Health Foods, 2100 W. 95th St. or Chicago Lock Box, 3400 W. 111th St., by the end of the day Monday to be entered to win.

The idea came up only a couple of weeks ago, Connors said.

"It's the first time we are doing this so it's still a work in progress," she said.

Connors said this effort has been selected by Local First Chicago as the official South Side Small Business Saturday event. A grant the MPBHBA received will be used to bring a free, trackless kiddie train to the parking lot of County Fair during the event.

The scavenger hunt will include a unique task that requires shoppers be present at the stores in the neighborhood. Examples include Cakewalk Chicago, which will ask a question of how many flavors they have in stock; Blazin' Cycle, which will ask that shoppers perform as many bicep curls in 30 seconds as possible and post a selfie; and Beverly Records, which will ask about which band's logo they have on the front cash register.

"The competition is a way to motivate people to come out and try something new," Connors said.

Several other businesses in Beverly Hills, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood also also planning fun ideas. Many of them will offer certain discounts, free hot chocolate and cocoa and other offers.

The complete listing of businesses taking part in Small Business Saturday in Beverly/Morgan Park/Mt. Greenwood is below:

• Barney Callaghan’s Pub, 10618 S. Western Ave.
• Barraco’s (95th St.), 2105 W. 95th St.
• Belle ̄ Up Boutique, 1915 W 103rd St.
• Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St.
• Beverly Hills Garage, 2043 W. 95th St.
• Beverly Hills Marketplace, 1809 W. 95th St.
• Beverly Records, 11612 S. Western Ave.
• Big’ N Little Shoes, 3142 W. 111th St.
• Blazin’ Cycle, 10227 S. Western Ave.
• Bookie’s, 10324 S. Western Ave.
• Bridgeport Coffee, 9135 S. Western Ave.
• Burger King, 11020 S. Kedzie Ave.
• Business Accounting Matters, 9415 S. Western Ave., Suite 103
• B-Sides Coffee + Tea, 9907 S Walden Parkway
• Cakewalk Chicago, 1741 W. 99th St.
• Calabria Imports, 1905 W. 103rd St.
• Capsule, 9915 S. Walden Parkway
• The Chicago FIX, 3139 W. 111th St.
• Chicago Lock Box, 3400 W. 111th St.
• Chicago Public Library Mount Greenwood Branch, 11010 S. Kedzie
• Cork & Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave.
• Curve Culture, 2140 W. 95th St.
• Double D’s Tanning Spa, Inc., 3010 w 111th St.
• Ellie’s Cafe & Catering, 10701 S. Hale Ave.
• Essential Creations, 2112 W. 95th St.
• Everything’s Relative Salon, 10548 S. Western Ave.
• Face to Face Salon and Spa, 3502 W. 111th St.
• Fat Tommy’s, 3031 W. 111th St.
• Fountain BBQ, 1848 W. 95th St.
• The Heritage Gallery, 1907 W. 103rd St.
• Hope Wellness Center & Spa, 10540 S. Western Ave.
• Horse Thief Hollow, 10426 S Western Ave.
• Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies, 1844 W. 95th St.
• Joseph A Murray & Associates, 3314 W. 111th St.
• Josh Mercer Allstate Insurance Agency, 2101 W. 95th St.
• Kean Bros. Gas, 2632 W. 111th St.
• Klees Golf Shop, 10436 S. Western Ave.
• The Lamp Shop, 3157 W. 111th St.
• Markland-Hubbard Gourmet Provisions, 1739 W. 99th St.
• Marlo Salon, 10215 S. Western Ave.
• Mount Greenwood Cleaners, 3547 W 111th St.
• Murray’s Browse & Brew, 3545 W. 99th St.
• Open Outcry Brewing Company, 10934 S. Western Ave.
• The Original Pancake House, 10437 S. Western Ave.
• Plaques, Trophies and Gifts by Perci, 2138 W. 95th St.
• Plump Chicago Floral and Events, 1834 W. 95th St.
• Porter Cullens, 3541 W. 99th St.
• Primerica, 3033 W. 111th St.
• Running Excels, 10328 S. Western Ave.
• Southtown Health Foods, 2100 W. 95th St.
• Shrader’s Goods, 3145 W. 111th St.
• Sweet Freaks, 9927 S. Wood St.
• Taylor Business Equipment, 9551 S. Damen Ave.
• Tranquility Salon Company, 9908 S. Walden Parkway
• Treadfit, 10458 S. Western Ave.
• VanWade for Men, 2025 W. 95th St.
• Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery, 9030 S. Hermitage Ave.
• You Glow Girl Chicago, 3205 W.111th St.

They are all mapped below via the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association:

The Small Business Saturday scavenger hunt is the main event on a busy day in the neighborhood.

Things get started early with the annual Beverly Hills Turkey Trot, a 5K race through the streets of North Beverly that raises money for the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. A pancake breakfast will be held immediately after the race inside the Christ the King gymnasium.

After the Small Business Saturday event, the community will celebrate its annual tree lighting ceremony at King Lockhart Park on the east side of Western Avenue near 107th Street. White lights will be turned on Maple trees, bushes and shrubs while colored lights will fill an Evergreen tree during a switch flipping ceremony sponsored by the MPBHBA beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Beverly Lynch / Running Excels