Vendor Story: John Hicks

I became a vendor four years ago. I had just moved from St. Louis and was window washing. The Night Ministry told me about StreetWise. I sold at the Starbucks on Randolph and Wabash, by Macy’s and the Brown Line. The first time I sold, I made $100 at Randolph and Wabash.

The clientele has fallen. It’s gotten slow. Restaurants have closed. I do windows and instead of coming once a week, they want me to come once a month.

Now I sell by Walgreens at Dearborn and Division.Now, downtown is like St. Louis downtown. It’s quiet. Selling in a residential area is better at times but not always.