Community Store on Brink of Closure Amidst Property Tax Hike as Obama Center Looms Large
A small business in South Shore is on the verge of being shut down after its landlord sold the property to a nonprofit supporting veterans. Mama Africa's Marketplace, which has been operating since 2021, sells African cultural products and provides a community space. The store's owner, Lakiesha Williams, had secured a lease with John Lewis, the building's owner, at a rent of $700 per month.
However, significant property tax hikes led to an increase in Lewis' bills, forcing him to seek a buyer for the property. In October, Williams was notified that her lease would not be renewed, and she was given until January 5th to raise $100,000 cash from private lenders. Despite a GoFundMe campaign launched on December 28th, which has raised over $16,000 so far, Williams fell short of the target.
The buyer, Eli Williamson, is a South Shore resident and founder of Leave No Veteran Behind, a nonprofit that employs people in transitional jobs. Williamson claimed that the sale was necessary due to the building's need for major renovation. However, Williams expressed shock at being informed of the sale on Christmas Day and felt that it could have been handled differently.
Williams argued that the property tax hike was not the primary reason for Lewis' decision to sell, but rather his own financial struggles. She pointed out that if the taxes had remained lower, she would still be able to continue operating the store.
The Obama Presidential Center, set to open in June, has raised concerns among nearby residents about potential gentrification and higher property taxes and rents. Mama Africa's Marketplace is approximately 2 miles from the center, sparking fears that its closure may contribute to this issue.
As Williams faces an eviction case at her home on the West Side, she remains hopeful that her community will rally around her efforts to save the store. However, with the sale set to close soon, it remains uncertain whether Mama Africa's Marketplace will be able to remain in operation.
A small business in South Shore is on the verge of being shut down after its landlord sold the property to a nonprofit supporting veterans. Mama Africa's Marketplace, which has been operating since 2021, sells African cultural products and provides a community space. The store's owner, Lakiesha Williams, had secured a lease with John Lewis, the building's owner, at a rent of $700 per month.
However, significant property tax hikes led to an increase in Lewis' bills, forcing him to seek a buyer for the property. In October, Williams was notified that her lease would not be renewed, and she was given until January 5th to raise $100,000 cash from private lenders. Despite a GoFundMe campaign launched on December 28th, which has raised over $16,000 so far, Williams fell short of the target.
The buyer, Eli Williamson, is a South Shore resident and founder of Leave No Veteran Behind, a nonprofit that employs people in transitional jobs. Williamson claimed that the sale was necessary due to the building's need for major renovation. However, Williams expressed shock at being informed of the sale on Christmas Day and felt that it could have been handled differently.
Williams argued that the property tax hike was not the primary reason for Lewis' decision to sell, but rather his own financial struggles. She pointed out that if the taxes had remained lower, she would still be able to continue operating the store.
The Obama Presidential Center, set to open in June, has raised concerns among nearby residents about potential gentrification and higher property taxes and rents. Mama Africa's Marketplace is approximately 2 miles from the center, sparking fears that its closure may contribute to this issue.
As Williams faces an eviction case at her home on the West Side, she remains hopeful that her community will rally around her efforts to save the store. However, with the sale set to close soon, it remains uncertain whether Mama Africa's Marketplace will be able to remain in operation.
! I'm literally shook by the news of Mama Africa's Marketplace closing down... like, what's happening?! 
They've got a community space that provides a safe spot for people, and they're just gonna let it go because some rich guy wants to make a buck? 
It's not right. And it's all connected to those crazy property tax hikes... ugh! 
I mean, I get it, businesses gotta make ends meet, but this feels like corporate greed at its finest. What's wrong with the community coming together to save their own spot?! 
We need more stories of people supporting each other, not less! 
This is, like, exactly why we need a stronger support system for small businesses... it's heartbreaking to think that they might just disappear like this. 
The Obama Center is coming and I get it, change is needed, but what about the people who already live here? We need to make sure that our communities aren't getting pushed out by rising costs. 
... I mean, think about it - if John Lewis couldn't afford the property taxes, he wouldn't have had to sell the store to raise cash 
. But now Mama Africa's Marketplace is in danger because of that very same sale 
... Maybe they could've found a way to make it work without the GoFundMe campaign or even explored other options like partnering with local organizations to help out 
. The fact is, small businesses are already struggling as it is; can we really afford to lose more of them? 
and how our actions might impact those around us 
.
. Lakiesha Williams' community space is like, literally the heart of South Shore, you know? It's not just a store, it's a gathering spot for people from all walks of life 
. The fact that she's being priced out by her landlord over property taxes is just, like, so extra 
. And now this nonprofit guy is buying the place and "renovating" it? Sounds like code for gentrification to me 
.
It's not just her store that's at risk, it's the community she's built. What's gonna happen to all those people who rely on her space? 
. But if not... *sigh* 
for Lakiesha Williams and her community store! 
The property tax hike was already a struggle 
... her own home is in danger too 
. And what about Mama Africa's Marketplace? 
.
. We need to support Lakiesha and her community - they deserve it 
.
. If this happens, I think a lot of people are gonna lose something special... We should definitely be trying to help Lakiesha find a way to keep her business going 
. This Mama Africa's Marketplace, been servin' that community since 2021, and now they're puttin' the squeeze on her with this property tax hike? It's like, hello, we get it, times are tough, but can't we find a way to make it work? 
. I'm sure it'll be great for some folks, but what about the rest of us who don't wanna see our communities gettin' priced outta here? It's like, we're already payin' enough rent 
. I'm really rooting for Lakiesha to save the store, but with the property tax hike & Obama Center looming over us... it's hard to see a positive outcome 
. Can we PLEASE do something to support her? Maybe we can start a petition or rally around the community to show some love 
I heard it's supposed to be big and cool, but at what cost? 
. Can't we just slow down for one second and think about the people who are getting left behind by all this urban planning stuff? 
And it's weird to me that the property tax hike isn't even the main reason why John Lewis decided to sell - it seems like there are more complex issues at play here 
. And honestly, I'm kinda worried about the gentrification thing too... our communities need places like Mama Africa's Marketplace to stay true to themselves 
. Fingers crossed that Lakiesha can get some help from her community and save her store! 