Local Community Store on Brink of Closure Amid Property Tax Hikes, Obama Center Development
A South Shore community store that has become a beloved hub for local vendors and residents is facing an uncertain future after its landlord accepted a sale offer from a nonprofit organization focused on supporting veterans. Mama Africa's Marketplace at 2100 E. 71st St., which has been in operation since 2021, may be forced to close due to significant property tax hikes.
The store's owner, Lakiesha Williams, had been struggling with rising rent costs, including an increase from $700 a month to over $1,100, before her landlord notified her that the lease would not be renewed. The sale price of the property has been set at $550,000, but Williams was unable to secure financing due to high-interest rates.
The store's closure is also being complicated by the recent announcement of the Obama Presidential Center, which is expected to open in June and will bring significant changes to the surrounding area. Many residents are concerned about gentrification and increased property taxes, which could lead to higher costs for businesses like Mama Africa's Marketplace.
Williams has been a vocal advocate for community support and has used her store as a platform to raise funds and resources for local organizations. She credits the community with rallying around her during this difficult time, but feels that more could have been done to help preserve the store.
"It was such a small amount [increase in rent]... I wasn’t prepared to pay it," Williams said. "I decided that I would just open my doors and sell a few things that I had available as people were walking past, so that I could continue to make the money to pay the rent."
Despite efforts by community members and local organizations to raise funds and support the store's sale, Mama Africa's Marketplace remains uncertain about its future. The nonprofit organization behind the property sale has stated that their goal is to preserve the building as a community asset for years to come.
The story highlights the impact of rising property taxes on small businesses in Chicago's predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods. As property values continue to rise, concerns about gentrification and displacement are becoming increasingly relevant.
A South Shore community store that has become a beloved hub for local vendors and residents is facing an uncertain future after its landlord accepted a sale offer from a nonprofit organization focused on supporting veterans. Mama Africa's Marketplace at 2100 E. 71st St., which has been in operation since 2021, may be forced to close due to significant property tax hikes.
The store's owner, Lakiesha Williams, had been struggling with rising rent costs, including an increase from $700 a month to over $1,100, before her landlord notified her that the lease would not be renewed. The sale price of the property has been set at $550,000, but Williams was unable to secure financing due to high-interest rates.
The store's closure is also being complicated by the recent announcement of the Obama Presidential Center, which is expected to open in June and will bring significant changes to the surrounding area. Many residents are concerned about gentrification and increased property taxes, which could lead to higher costs for businesses like Mama Africa's Marketplace.
Williams has been a vocal advocate for community support and has used her store as a platform to raise funds and resources for local organizations. She credits the community with rallying around her during this difficult time, but feels that more could have been done to help preserve the store.
"It was such a small amount [increase in rent]... I wasn’t prepared to pay it," Williams said. "I decided that I would just open my doors and sell a few things that I had available as people were walking past, so that I could continue to make the money to pay the rent."
Despite efforts by community members and local organizations to raise funds and support the store's sale, Mama Africa's Marketplace remains uncertain about its future. The nonprofit organization behind the property sale has stated that their goal is to preserve the building as a community asset for years to come.
The story highlights the impact of rising property taxes on small businesses in Chicago's predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods. As property values continue to rise, concerns about gentrification and displacement are becoming increasingly relevant.
The store owner is struggling but it doesnt sound like she was even trying 2 find a way to save the business 
And what's up w/ the Obama Center thingy? Is that even gonna be good for the community or just more problems? I heard its gonna be super expensive to live around there now 
this whole situation is just so sad... you got a community that's been holding it down for years, and now they're being priced out by rising taxes and changes in the neighborhood... it's like, we gotta ask ourselves, what does it mean to truly support our communities? Is it just about throwing some money their way when things get tough, or is it about actually doing the work to help them thrive in the long run? 
I think we can all learn from Lakiesha's story - she didn't give up, even when things seemed impossible. She found a way to keep her doors open, not just for herself, but for the community too... maybe that's what we need more of: people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get involved in making a real difference 
. It's not just a store, it's a hub for the community. Lakiesha Williams is doing so much with her space, raising funds and resources for local orgs... I feel like we're losing something special here. The property tax hikes are crazy, and now this nonprofit organization is buying up the building? It feels like they're just going to turn it into some fancy Obama Center thingy 
. What's gonna happen to all the vendors and customers who rely on her store for support? We gotta think about what's good for the community, not just the wealthy developers 
. This is a big deal, folks, and we should be paying attention 
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. I've been going there for a while now and it's always busy with local vendors selling their handmade crafts and stuff 
. The community seems to be coming together to try and save it, but it's hard not to think that the whole situation feels kinda unfair 
. And now with all this development going on in the area, like the Obama Center... it's hard to see how anyone can make ends meet 
. We need more community support, for sure! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they can find a way to keep Mama Africa's Marketplace open 
. The community came together to help her, which is amazing, but it's not enough when the system is stacked against small businesses like hers. We need to find a way to support these local gems before they disappear 
.
It's not like they were asking for much. They've been working hard to keep that store alive, and now all of a sudden, it's like, "Sorry, little lady, you gotta close up shop." 
No way, José! We gotta figure out a better plan for these small businesses and communities. 
and Lakiesha has always been super supportive with her fundraising events & stuff. It's crazy how high-interest rates can mess up business plans 
... I'm sending all my love to the community members who are trying to save the store 
. The Obama Center development is gonna change so much around here, it's gonna be interesting to see how it plays out 
. And on top of all this, it's just heartbreaking because Lakiesha was trying to use her store as a way to give back to the community... now it seems like all their efforts are being wasted 
like, we get it, the city wants to invest in itself, but at what cost? 
It's like we're losing a piece of our identity as a community. I feel for Lakiesha Williams, she's been fighting so hard to keep her store afloat, it's heartbreaking that more support couldn't be provided. Can't we just find a way to make this work for everyone instead of kicking people out? 
. The government wants to push out the small business owners like Mama Africa's Marketplace so they can make way for those fancy new developments like the Obama Presidential Center 
. I mean, I get that property values are increasing, but $550k for the entire building? 
. I've seen small businesses struggle before, but this feels particularly cruel 
