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Bridget Maiellaro
Mineral makeup boutique in Naperville
By Bridget Maiellaro
Made in the Shade
During her time as a fashion consultant and manager of various cosmetic counters, Heather Hanson, a Northwest suburbanite, stumbled into the field of mineral makeup more than a decade ago. Back then, the product was just breaking into the market and gave Hanson the idea to make a high-quality cosmetics line that was affordable. Hanson contacted... Read more
Salon-Boutique Combo in Barrington
By Bridget Maiellaro
Two Birds, One Stone
When north suburban twins Mary Sirois and Molly Kiefer decided to create their own business, they kept family and unity in mind. The result: Mia Sorella (104 S. Cook St., Barrington; 847-842-5009, mia-sorella.com), or ‘my sister’ in Italian, a relatively new combination salon and boutique located in the heart of downtown Barrington. “We wanted to make a place where you felt like you were shopping and getting beauty tips from your... Read more
USDA Certified Organic Wellness Facility
By Bridget Maiellaro
Giving green a new name

Born and raised in Yugoslavia, Lillian Ostojich says she has spent most of her life developing ways to encourage healthy ways of living. A doctor who has dabbled in business, Ostojich created Zoetica (1250 N. LaSalle Dr.; 866-963-8422, zoetica.net), an organic health and wellness facility certified by the USDA—perhaps the nation’s first. “We really did everything possible to make it as pure as possible,” says Ostojich, who spent nearly four years planning... Read more
Sales Check
By Bridget Maiellaro
A roundup of August’s sales, store openings, and shopping news Read more
Greenheart Shop Moves to Wicker Park
By Bridget Maiellaro
New Spot for a Green Shop
Chicago’s only nonprofit, eco-friendly, fair trade store, the Greenheart Shop (312-264-1625, greenheartshop.org) has taken over the former Porte Rouge (porterouge.biz) building at 1911 West Division Street. Opening earlier this month, the bigger space now provides a wider selection of sustainable clothing, jewelry, body products, home décor, and accessories, such as... Read more
A Fast Fete
By Barri Leiner, Megan Lovejoy, Bridget Maiellaro, and Cassie Walker
We wanted to throw an impromptu summer bash, so we kept the to-do list simple: takeout food, local beer, and a quirky theme—a “Taste of Chicago” at home Read more
New Highland Park Shop Expands
By Bridget Maiellaro
More Posh
Susan Carlson planned for her first business venture, Posh Essentials (658 Central Ave., Highland Park; 847-945-7674, shoppingposh.com), to be a lingerie store. But shortly after opening in mid-April, Carlson, a principal of the company, quickly saw that customers wanted more. “We found that people loved to come in and buy gifts for each other, so we... Read more
Michigan Avenue’s Newest Eco-Friendly Spa
By Bridget Maiellaro
Renewed
Despite the recession, Vipul (Victor) Aggarwal has continued to expand his small, family-run business. The 29-year-old entrepreneur recently opened Renew Spa (980 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd floor; 312-526-3891, renewspachicago.com), his third start-up business in three years. Believing that spas were either overpriced or dingy, Aggarwal sought to... Read more
The 900 Shops Adds Purse Boutique
By Bridget Maiellaro
It’s in the Bag
A few years ago, Debbie Jagel looked around at the bags and purses women were carrying and sensed opportunity—a need for purses that more deftly complemented women’s styles. And so she set about designing a line of purses and bags made of unique materials and equipped with interchangeable straps that could be swapped out to match different outfits. Last month she opened the boutique Ootra... Read more
Sales Check
By Bridget Maiellaro
A roundup of July’s sales, store openings, and shopping news Read more