Since 2024, the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin (DNA) has hosted spring pop-up markets to support emerging small business owners. This initiative showcases self-made products. Next month, another extension of this effort, the Made In Elgin Shop, will open. Located at 42 S. Spring St., the shop will host up to eight entrepreneurs who will both create and sell their goods within Courtyard at 40.
Jennifer Fukala, the Executive Director of DNA, announced that the shop will occupy both storefronts on Spring Street. These have been merged into one unit. The project received a $100,000 Small Business Accelerator Grant from The Hartford and Main Street America in May 2025. This funding covers essential items like lighting, display units, security systems, and educational programming for the businesses involved. An allocation has also been made to market and sustain the program’s first year.
The Made In Elgin Shop plans to open with four vendors. DNA is actively seeking additional participants. Initially, it will operate Thursday to Sunday at select times. Entrepreneurs will pay $400 monthly in rent, committing to a minimum term of six months.
Fukala emphasized the program’s aim to assist entrepreneurs in moving from home-based operations to independent storefronts. The inaugural group includes Anika Jones (Head to Toe Blessings), Regina and Tawny Pauling (The Noble Soapery), Jen Monterroso (La Joya De Taxco), and Tola Makinde of TCreativ Designs and MOPE Botanical Wellness.
Under TCreativ Designs, Makinde crafts pressed floral art, botanical jewelry, and resin keepsakes. Her MOPE Botanical Wellness offers cold-infused oil blends and gemstone wellness kits. “MOPE” means “to be complete” in Yoruba and is also Makinde’s middle name.
Makinde operates from a home studio but recognizes the benefits of a dedicated commercial space. She frequently sells at events in Chicagoland and views the Made in Elgin Shop as an ideal progression for her brands. Makinde values the community spirit among local creators and welcomes opportunities for further collaboration.
Fukala views the Made In Elgin Retail Incubator as more than just a business support program. It’s a strategic plan for downtown economic development. The program seeks to groom vendors into permanent storefronts, with businesses often thriving due to diverse revenue streams, such as online and wholesale, that reduce reliance on walk-in customers.
For Makinde, the shop offers crucial visibility and a platform for displaying her products in a professional setting. She anticipates that the space will facilitate new collaborations and workshops, enhancing her community engagement.