Joliet Needs A Lot More Black-Owned Restaurants: Ernest Crim

JOLIET, IL - This growing city has a lot to be proud of. Plans are rolling along near Interstate 55 and I-80 to create the multi-million dollar Rock Run Crossings outdoor mall. Innovation Pavilion, a Colorado investment firm, wants to create a downtown technology and innovation campus. Yet, at the same time, there's a growing perception that Joliet has not done enough to encourage more black-owned businesses, particularly restaurants, to flourish.

Ernest Crim, who teaches social studies at Joliet Central High School, recently brought the issue to the Joliet City Council's attention. Crim hails from Chicago before moving to Joliet six years ago.

"I have to say that being a resident of Joliet now, I really love the city," he told the Joliet City Council at its July 18 meeting. "I love food, and I think everybody here can say the same thing."

As a teacher, Crim said he's active in mentoring, including some of his former pupils. But when he wants to take others out for lunch, despite living in a city of nearly 150,000, his options are slim. "I like to eat soul food, and it's hard to come by in Joliet," Crim told the city.

"I find myself often taking my money to other towns ... I'm taking my money elsewhere."

In Joliet, black residents make up nearly 20 percent of the city's population, Crim told the council, but there's only a handful of black-owned restaurants throughout the entire city.

Some of the existing black-owned restaurants, he said, include:

• Aisha's Southern Cuisine, 2777 Black Road

• Cheesecakes By James, 20 E. Cass Street

• Chicago Wingz Around the World, 627 W. Jefferson St.

• ConEcepts, 3340 Mall Loop Drive, at the Louis Joliet Mall

• Louisiana Barbeque, 1220 Richards St.

"I was honestly appalled," Crim told the council. "I know Joliet has a sizeable population of black residents so when I did my research, I found there were over three-hundred restaurants in this town. Of those, there are about four to five black-owned restaurants."

Crim posed a question for Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and the rest of the council to ponder.

"What can Joliet, because I think Joliet is a progressive town from what I've seen and they've done a lot ... what can Joliet do to be a trendsetter to promote black-owned businesses, more specifically black-owned residents?" Crim asked.

Joliet Patch spoke with Crim to learn more about his vision for Joliet and how the city can encourage more African-Americans to become entrepreneurs, especially people who have a desire to run their own restaurant.

"I'm passionate about making a change," Crim said. "We, in the black community, we don't own enough capital in our neighborhoods. I always like to help people who are being disenfranchised, but I'm not an entrepreneur."

For Crim, the city's pursuit of the suburban Denver investment firm, Innovation Pavilion, caught his attention. On paper, the economic development proposal sounds solid overall for downtown Joliet, he said, but who will truly benefit?

"So a light bulb went on in my head," Crim said. "What about the black community here in Joliet?"

Crim suggested that it would be terrific if Joliet can start offering monetary incentives to minority-owned businesses in Chicago who are willing to relocate or expand their existing businesses to Joliet.

At any rate, the issue of increasing the number of black-owned businesses around Joliet is indeed gaining more attention from city leaders, including the Joliet Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Aug. 24 marks the inaugural event for the African American Business Association, a new subgroup of the Joliet's Chamber of Commerce. The two-hour social event starts at 5 p.m. and it's at the Jacob Henry Victorian Ballroom, 15 S. Richards St. For more details, read this recent Patch article here.

Crim told Joliet Patch that his decision to address the council should not be misconstrued. From his perspective, Mayor O'Dekirk has "been pretty progressive with a lot of new businesses opening up."

"I'm not attacking the city," Crim said. "Everybody that I spoke to that night (at City Council) seemed very receptive. I want to continue to go to city council meetings."

Want to collaborate with Ernest Crim on increasing Joliet's number of black-owned restaurants? If so, he's reachable on Twitter - @MrCrim3 on Facebook - Mr Crim III and by email MrCrim3@gmail.com

Images provided via Ernest Crim