BIG CHANGES UNDERWAY FOR BJ’S MARKET & BAKERY

By the end of the year, BJ’s Market & Bakery, a black-owned restaurant at 8734 S. Stony Island Ave., is relocating to the Stony Island Plaza, 9501 S. Stony Island Ave. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
By the end of the year, BJ’s Market & Bakery, a black-owned restaurant at 8734 S. Stony Island Ave., is relocating to the Stony Island Plaza, 9501 S. Stony Island Ave. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

Big Changes Underway for BJ’s Market & Bakery

BY WENDELL HUTSON, Contributing Writer

BJ’s Market & Bakery is making changes to its business strategy that includes relocating to a South Side shopping center, opening more locations and focusing more on carry out orders.

According to Hank Meyer, who co-owns BJ’s Market & Bakery at 8734 S. Stony Island Ave. with his brother John Meyer, the longtime black-owned restaurant is moving to the Stony Island Plaza, 9501 S. Stony Island Ave., this month.

“We just signed a (five-year) lease Monday (Dec. 9) and now we have to go through the process of setting up equipment, getting it inspected and all sorts of stuff. So hopefully in a couple of weeks we will be open,” said Meyer, who added it was leasing space at its current location but still owns its former site at 1156 W. 79th St. “The idea for that location [79th Street] is to convert it into a food manufacturing facility where more jobs would be created.”

Mid-America Real Estate Corporation manages the South Side strip mall, which includes a Bank of America, Shell gas station and Jewel Osco.

Maria Rossobillo, a leasing agent for Mid-America, did not return calls seeking comment.

But unlike its current setup where customers can dine-in, Meyers said its new location would have a different focus.

“Our new focus will be primarily on take out after research showed us that about 80 percent of our business is take out anyway,” he added. “By shifting our focus, we are hoping this gives us a chance to enhance our product offering.”

The shuttered 79th Street site is used every year by BJ’s Market for its “Operation Hope” event where free dinners are handed out to the community. Last week, more than 300 people attended the event and received a free meal that included baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a dessert.

Avery Brady, 61, was among those who received a hot meal on one of Chicago’s coldest days thus far when temperatures dropped below 20 degrees on Dec. 9.

“It’s cold outside but it’s warm inside my belly thanks to this wonderful meal I got. It’s good to know some businesses care about the less fortunate and does something for us beyond Thanksgiving,” said Brady. “I hope I can get another meal because I am still hungry.”

The Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham, stood at the door greeting people and showering them with hugs and words of encouragement.

“There’s a lot of people living in this community that don’t get meals every day. There have been numerous times I arrived at my church office at 6:30 in the morning and at least two or three people are standing outside asking me for food and saying they have not eaten since yesterday,” explained Pfleger. “That’s why events like this are needed on a regular basis and not just on holidays. This needs to be an ongoing project for communities hurting.”

The faith-based leader was joined by State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (16th), whose district office is located across the street from BJ’s Market, and Gary, IN. Mayor Karen Wilson-Freeman, who will take over as the new president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League next month.

While Pfleger greeted customers at the door, Wilson-Freeman and Collins were busy handing out dinners.

“It was important for me to be here today to start serving a community I will be working with starting January,” Wilson-Freeman said. “Plus, serving people is all I’ve ever done, and is all I ever want to do. This is a wonderful way to show people love and find out the needs of the community.”

Collins echoed the same sentiments.

“My passion is to help as many people as God allows me to do. When we are blessed, we need to give back and I have always had a passion for helping people,” said Collins. “Transforming this community into a better place to live is an ongoing mission I have as an elected official and it is a mission I plan to seek out to the end.”

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