Esther Yoon-Ji Kang on WBEZ Chicago discusses how latino-owned businesses and latino population at large are growing in the western suburbs of Chicago.
“When I arrived here, the store across the street and I were the only Hispanic ones nearby,” Reyes says in Spanish. “Now, we have another restaurant, and another … we have increased in number.”
“Once home to antique retailers and Bohemian restaurants, Riverside — a town of about 9,000 people — has welcomed a wave of Latino businesses over the last decade. From breakfast spots to barber shops, the trend demonstrates the growth of the Latino population in Chicago’s western suburbs, beyond communities such as Cicero and Berwyn, which are majority Latino.”
“Latino owners, entrepreneurs [are] telling others that there’s an opportunity here, and we’re so very grateful that we have built that reputation for a welcoming community,” said Gallegos, a lifelong Riverside resident.”
“According to the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago, suburbs including Riverside, Western Springs and Broadview have seen their Latino populations grow by 60% to 80% in just 10 years.”
From WBEZ Chicago (To go to the actual article, please click on this link.)
