Evelyn's Food Love Thrives After LISC Small Business Loan

CHICAGO, IL — Evelyn Shelton says she's "heavily invested" in the resurgence of the South Side's Washington Park neighborhood and residents there have become equally reliant on her as someone who has brought a unique style of food service to the community. Shelton is the owner of the fairly new "Evelyn's Food Love" restaurant that is often featuring new and different fare.

"We have a changing menu," said Shelton, a native of nearby Bronzeville and the owner of the restaurant at 5522 S. State Street that's described on its website as a "cozy cafe serving a variety of delicious food: homemade soups, fresh salads & ethnic fare made from scratch."

The current menu offers a number of options for ribs and seafood. Breakfast will be served again when Shelton finds a second location to serve breakfast only, according to recent posts on the business' Facebook page.

"We get bored easily, so we need to change things up," Shelton said. "A couple things that we have on a regular basis are roasted chicken, roasted fish and vegetables from the Farmer's Market."

Evelyn's has been open since May 23, having received immediate support from Washington Park residents and 3rd Ward Ald. Pat Dowell, Shelton said.

"This is a great experience," Shelton, a former executive chef at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and South Shore Hospital, said. "Washington Park has had its issues, but we are happy to be part of the recovery."

Shelton says her early popularity would not have been possible without receiving a small business loan through the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC-Chicago). LISC-Chicago helped Evelyn's get off the ground running with a generous grant.

"I don't know if we would have been able to do it without them," Shelton said. "They truly live up their name by providing so much support."

Steve Hall, vice president of LISC Small Business, said LISC helps entrepreneurs who "are often forgotten," but "committed to turning around their communities."

"We help create opportunities in neighborhoods that are underbanked and under resourced, but full of talented entrepreneurs," Hall said.

Entrepreneurs like Shelton are what's needed for Washington Park to continue the momentum that started when the neighborhood was considered to be a site in the 2016 Chicago Olympics bid and later became a finalist to land the Obama Presidential Library.

"We also have an excellent tennis facility that's the largest of its kind," she said. "I'm happy for this great community and to be a part of bringing great food."

Shelton leads the operation at Evelyn's and says she has "an amazing staff" of 10 employees.

"Everyone is committed to this," she said. "They have all believed in me from the beginning and started working even before we opened and I was able to pay them."

Photo courtesy of Evelyn's Food Love