Made In Elgin Shop Aims to Boost Local Entrepreneurs

Since 2024, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin has organized spring pop-up makers markets to provide new business owners a venue to display their handcrafted products. Next month, the Made In Elgin Shop, part of DNA’s Made In Elgin Incubator Program, will launch at a storefront in Courtyard at 40. Up to eight entrepreneurs will be able to produce and sell their goods there. DNA Executive Director Jennifer Fukala stated, “The address for the Made In Elgin Shop will be 42 S. Spring St. It will occupy both storefronts facing Spring Street, which have been combined into a single unit.”

The initiative receives funding from a $100,000 Small Business Accelerator Grant awarded by The Hartford in collaboration with Main Street America, granted to the DNA in May 2025. Fukala mentioned that the grant allows for equipment purchases, including lighting, slatwalls, paint, display pieces, a point-of-sale system, printers, a security system, work tables, and educational programs for the businesses involved. Part of the funding has also been reserved for the program’s marketing and sustained operations during its inaugural year.

The Made In Elgin Shop initially plans to open with four vendors, and DNA aims to attract four additional vendors to fully occupy the space, according to Fukala. Initially, the shop operates during select hours from Thursday to Sunday, with vendors agreeing to a monthly rent of $400 and committing to a minimum six-month term. “The overarching goal is to maintain a revolving roster, helping entrepreneurs transition from home-based or online setups into independent downtown storefronts,” Fukala explained.

The first four participants include Anika Jones, operating Head to Toe Blessings, known for skin and hair care products; Regina and Tawny Pauling’s The Noble Soapery, offering soaps, body and hair care products, candles, and home scents; Jen Monterroso with La Joya De Taxco, a family-run jewelry enterprise; and Tola Makinde, who helms TCreativ Designs and MOPE Botanical Wellness.

Tola Makinde demonstrates some handmade designs marketed under her TCreativ Designs and MOPE Botanical Wellness brands. Makinde’s business will be among the initial tenants when the Made In Elgin Shop debuts downtown in July.

Makinde, who began TCreativ Designs five years ago, crafts pressed floral art, botanical jewelry, resin keepsakes, nature-themed home décor, and provides floral preservation services. “MOPE Botanical Wellness grew out of TCreativ Designs. With it, I create cold-infused botanical oil blends and gemstone wellness kits. Everything is rooted in nature and made with intention. MOPE is a Yoruba word meaning ‘to be complete,’ and it’s also my middle name and my grandmother’s name,” Makinde explained. She operates from her home studio within the Elgin area.

“I do everything by hand — the pressing, the resin work, the oil infusions — so having a dedicated creative space matters a lot to how the work comes together,” remarked Makinde. Her products are available at events and markets around the Chicago area, and she has been a vendor at the Downtown Elgin Market for years, making her participation in the Made In Elgin Shop a logical progression.

Makinde emphasized her brands’ deep roots in the community and supports having a space that honors local creators. “Both of my brands are deeply rooted in this community, and I love the idea of a space that celebrates makers who are creating right here in Elgin,” she stated.

Fukala expressed hope that the Made In Elgin Retail Incubator Program will assist businesses like Makinde’s to evolve from market vendors to established storefronts. “This is much more than a small business assistance program,” she said. “It is a strategic economic development initiative. Its long-term value lies in creating a pipeline of future downtown businesses.”

She added that these businesses often generate multiple revenue streams, including wholesale, online, event, and direct-to-consumer sales, making them less reliant solely on walk-in traffic. This diversity positions them favorably for enduring sustainability and contributes to a more vibrant downtown business district.

Makinde looks forward to the increased visibility and community engagement that the downtown location promises. “Having a consistent, professional space to showcase both TCreativ and MOPE means people can discover the work in a setting that does it justice,” she said. Being among fellow local creators offers valued community interactions, and she anticipates potential new opportunities for workshops and collaborations.

Mike Danahey contributed as a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.