Edgebrook Local Business Group Disbanding, Handing Reins To Chamber

EDGEBROOK — After 11 years of promoting local businesses, the nonprofit Everyday Edgebrook is disbanding.

The volunteer-led group will formally disperse on Jan. 1, president Laura Guenther told Block Club. The Edgebrook Sauganash Chamber of Commerce will take over many of the events and promotions Everyday Edgebrook previously organized, Guenther said.

“What we’re hoping is, now that we’ve built up some momentum, we can pass it over primarily to the chamber,” she said.

Everyday Edgebrook came together as an unofficial group more than a decade ago, Guenther, the owner of Local Goods Chicago, said.

Because Edgebrook’s main business district is intersected by Metra tracks and busy streets like Caldwell and Devon Avenues, foot traffic can be sparse, Guenther said. Everyday Edgebrook tried to attract more people to local shops by hosting events like the Art and Wine Walk, the Beer Stroll, Small Business Saturdays, sidewalk sales and a farmer’s market.

Over the past 11 years, Everyday Edgebrook was “able to bring people together in a positive way and drive foot traffic,” Guenther said.

Kathy Fern, executive director of the Edgebrook Sauganash Chamber, said the chamber will start hosting events like the Wine Walk and the Beer Stroll. In 2023, a group of Edgebrook moms revived the neighborhood’s farmers market. Last winter, the moms formally launched the North Branch Market, which serves the Edgebrook, Sauganash, Wildwood and Forest Glen neighborhoods. The Edgebrook Sauganash Chamber is the permit holder for the market.

All of Everyday Edgebrook’s 65 member businesses will receive a free, one-year membership to the chamber, Guenther said. Roughly half of Everyday Edgebrook’s businesses were already chamber members, Fern said.

“Everyday Edgebrook did a great job of focusing on Edgebrook-area businesses and creating a lot of awareness,” Fern, who used to volunteer with Everyday Edgebrook, said. “I think where the chamber can be useful now is by increasing not only the area’s foot traffic, but also the branding and the awareness.”

Fern said the chamber has been working with the North Branch Market to grow both groups’ social media followings and online presence. The chamber posts upcoming events and news on Facebook, Instagram and in the group’s weekly newsletter, available here.

The chamber is currently working on a 2025 strategic plan. Fern said she hopes to expand the chamber’s membership and community engagement in the new year.

Everyday Edgebrook’s board is going to decide how to spend the organization’s remaining funds, Guenther said. The group wants to use the money for a public art project or something else that will “draw attention to the neighborhood,” she said. Last winter, Everyday Edgebrook installed nine colorful animal statues along Devon and Kinzua avenues.

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