SOUTH DEERING GROCERY STORE BAMENDA FRESH BRINGS VALUE AND A VOW TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY

Black-owned grocery store fills void left by major grocery chains fleeing inner city

Chicago, Ill. -- While grocery chains are abandoning communities of color and closing their doors, a new Black-owned grocery store has opened in the inner city that is being welcomed by area residents. The new neighbor is Bamenda Fresh, a grocery store that recently opened its doors at 9557 S. Jeffery in Chicago. The new grocer is located in the seventh ward in South Deering Manor on the border of South Shore and Jeffrey Manor. With South Deering being the largest of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Bamenda Fresh is poised to satisfy a real need in the community. That’s because the store brings products – and value. Its shelves are filled with a full line of grocery items and customers are ecstatic.

Its hours of operation are 8AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and 10AM to 5PM on Sunday.

(www.Bamendafresh.com). These specials will be posted throughout the store, on social media (facebook. com/people/BamendaFresh) and will be spread by grateful customers through word of mouth.

Bamenda Fresh is destined to attract customers and boast sales because Felix’s specialty is community service. His career trajectory has been marked by success, including 20 years as a top-tier management executive with the world’s largest retailer, Walmart.

Since Bamenda Fresh is a Minority Business Enterprise, Felix is passionate about supporting minority businesses. Prominently on the shelves are products manufactured by Black-owned businesses including a selection of bottled teas from Pennie’s Tea. He is seeking more MBEowned products.

Bamenda Fresh is destined to attract customers and boast sales because Felix’s specialty is community service. His career trajectory has been marked by success, including 20 years as a top-tier management executive with the world’s largest retailer, Walmart.

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor,GreaterGrand Crossing, Burnside,Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END Washington Heights,Roseland,Rosemoor, Englewood,West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman,Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN

Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island,SouthHolland,and Dolton. Shopping- their favorite pastime!

HYDE PARK Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores,Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland,South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

To tailor its offerings to align with the tastes and habits of the surrounding community, Felix Leshey, Founder and President, assembled a team that invested considerable time meeting and connecting with the residents. At meetings they attended, they listened, observed and stocked their shelves with products that represented residents’ needs and wants. Leshey, who hails from the Cameroons, plans to hire up to ten associates from the community. One of the first hires was Emmanuel Tandong, Partner and Manager, who is a 7th Ward resident.

The store’s offerings include a wide array of high-quality meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, a deli, fresh produce, a frozen food department, cleaning products, an assortment of toiletries, sweets, snacks, teas, juices, carbonated beverages including its signature Bamenda Coffee. Also on the shelves are baby needs, vitamins and medicines.

Bamenda Fresh boasts a kiosk where coffee and pastries can be ordered from a walk-up counter.

To entice customers, specials will prominently broadcast discounts and will be advertised on its website,

Bamenda Fresh will also serve as a hub for community-enriching events. Recently, it partnered with My Home Nurses, LLC, to provide health screenings at the store.

The store plans to add a café, a fresh bakery and intends to serve prepared meals this year to expand its offerings. Future plans also include a Community Room where customers can meet, sit and relax.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held to celebrate its official opening. It was attended by Alderman Gregory Mitchell of the seventh ward. Mitchell spoke glowingly of the store, Felix, his staff, team and vision. Also prominently in attendance was South Deering Manor Community Association president Echelle Mohn. Felix presented her with a $1,000 donation to the South Deering Manor Community Association. Bamenda Fresh will also present grants to other local organizations in the future.

Felix credits his family – wife Annie, daughters Lena and Angel, sons Felix and Rocky- for their unwavering support, advice and love.

In that same spirit, he declared that the greatest offering will not only be the products but also the welcome embrace by staff.

REP. MAYFIELD REAPPOINTED CHAIRPERSON OF HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS-PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

State Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, will continue to take a leading role in facilitating public safety efforts across Illinois after being reappointed to lead the Appropriations-Public Safety Committee in the Illinois House of Representatives for the newly-begun 103rd General Assembly.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue the important work in which I have been engaged during the next two years,” Mayfield said. “During the last General Assembly, we were able to move Illinois forward with several significant achievements including more funding for law enforcement, enhanced programs to address retail theft, car theft, gun crime and more. However, more work remains to be done and the coming session is the time to do it.”

The 103rd General Assembly began on Jan. 11 and will continue until January 2025. Mayfield was also the chairperson of the same committee during the recently-ended 102nd General Assembly, where she maintained a consistent record of no-nonsense, equity-focused legislative work, including her efforts to help successfully pass the historic SAFE-T Act.

“This committee’s work is at the intersection of two of the most important aspects of public service—keeping the public safe and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” Mayfield said. “These are both areas of responsibility that I take very seriously, and I am excited once again to take on the challenge of ensuring they continue to be addressed in a balanced way.”

Mayfield’s constituent service office is reachable at 847-599-2800 or 60thdistrict@ gmail.com.

REP. DAVIS ANNOUNCES CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Rep. Danny K. Davis announced that the City of Chicago and Cook County would receive a reallocation of emergency rental assistance funds from the U. S. Treasury for the second quarter, beginning in April. This funding is a result of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, enacted on March 11, 2021. The funds are provided directly to states, U.S. territories, and local governments. Grantees such as the City of Chicago and Cook County use the funds to assist eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.

Davis said, “Emergency rental assistance is of great need in the City of Chicago, especially in Cook County’s marginalized communities. This funding will help many people.”

The U. S. Treasury reallocated $422,807.14 to the City of Chicago and $2,561,988.87 to Cook County. Here is the website for additional information about the program: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/ coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program

For Chicago: https://www.chicago.gov/ city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/renters/svcs/emergency-rental-assistance-program.html

For Cook County: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/rent-help