Hundreds of years after her ancestors were freed from slavery, a Roseland neighborhood business owner, Racquel J. Bradley, decided to create a pop-up shop to help other business owners move to another level of freedom — generational wealth.
“This event will showcase other Black business owners while they provide for their families,” Bradley said. “We, as Blacks, spend our money in a lot of places and other communities benefit. We need to know there’s a Black business with quality items and that can stay in our community.”
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Bradley, 44, a Hyde Park High School grad who attended Jackson State University, realized her talents and became aware they could help finance her future.
“I realized, I could do so many things that I didn’t want to be put in a box of just one thing or title,” she said of Bradley Urban Solutions, which does cleaning, cooking and event planning/hosting.
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Bradley started her entrepreneurship with a cleaning business after working at a hospital for 17 years where she felt she was not living to her full potential, she said. From there she went on to host private events/parties and when the pandemic struck, she began to sell food, which she has continued doing.
During the pandemic, the gap in generational wealth was felt in many households of color.
This Saturday, she plans to put her event planning skills in full gear.
“Juneteenth has become popular to Blacks in the recent years due to us learning and sharing more about our culture. As we are the trendsetters, moguls and leaders, we needed to start celebrating our achievements as we do others in this country,” she said. “I felt it was time to collaborate with other Black business owners and showcase our talents.”
So far, the event will showcase 11 businesses:
- ELP Cigars
- GottaStayFly Clothing
- Waisted (waist beads)
- NutraBurst
- Natasha Notary
- Creative Customz (custom designs)
- Classy Cute (clothing)
- ChiCity Alkaline Water
- NZuri Kulture (candles and oils)
- Creative Moldings, (detailed custom items)
- Blu Lemonade Stand (child business)
Bradley’s goal is to host an event that means something to her and other business owners.
“I want to let Black business owners showcase their business because some of us do not have advertising budgets and bricks-and-mortar buildings to sell our products. This gives them that opportunity,” Bradley said.
“I see these entrepreneurs paving a way for the kids in our culture who want to have their own businesses, as well. This, to me, begins our generational wealth.”
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The Juneteenth Pop-up Shop will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at 619 E. 103rd St.
dawilliams@chicagotribune.com
