TRUTH BE TOLD LAUNCHES POP-UP SERIES

Andrea Polk, owner of Zen Soul Apothecary. Polk will be a featured artisan at the South Pop Up Artisan Market at Truth Be Told. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAGE ONE.
Andrea Polk, owner of Zen Soul Apothecary. Polk will be a featured artisan at the South Pop Up Artisan Market at Truth Be Told. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAGE ONE.

TRUTH BE TOLD LAUNCHES POP-UP SERIES

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Andrea Polk launched Zen Soul Apothecary as a labor of health and wellness. When she started to develop extreme eczema, she looked to books about healing and herbology. She went to a shaman and learned about reiki.

“I grew into my spirituality because I had to heal myself.
I began healing so fast people began to ask me what I did and if I could do it for them,” she said, adding that she wrote down everything she did for herself.

Polk, who also owns Solo Noir Skincare for Men, created
Zen Soul Apothecary. Zen Soul Apothecary is just one of the
vendors who will participate in The Study Hotel at the University of Chicago’s South Side Pop Up Artisan Market.
It will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Truth Be Told, the
hotel’s British-inspired gastropub, located at 1227 E. 60th St.

There was a lot of dialogue with community partners, including The Silver Room, to get connected to local talent to showcase the event. Heather Gayatgay, Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at The Study Hotel, said it is important for the hotel to be able to showcase and share the cultural and artistic community around the hotel. There is an opportunity for hotel guests to experience the event.

“What I love about all the entrepreneurs we’re working with now, especially Andrea, they have a story as to why they started their business,” Gayatgay said. “The goal here is
to extend this pop-up to showcase musicians, artists, more
entrepreneurs that are based in the South side community
or involved there.” Balm Yard and Reformed School were featured on Wednesday, May 31st. Zen Soul Apothecary and Red Elephant Candle Company will be featured on Wednesday, June 14th.

Polk created Zen Soul Apothecary to mirror the butterfly
transformation story, from caterpillar to chrysalis and butterfly. Using the chakra system for healing, the first kit for Zen Soul Apothecary is the Self Love (Cocoon), the second is
Release (Emerge), the next is Elevate (Rise) and the final
one is Balance (Flourish). Polk created affirmation cards,
bath bombs and teas. All the herbs and essences used are
meant to help that energetic part of the body.

“Zen Soul Apothecary is for women and moms who are looking to create balance in their bodies and in their homes so they can not only heal themselves but also heal their families,” she said. As Polk was learning energetic healing, reiki and to be a shaman, her daughter was right there with her. Polk says they created Zen Soul Apothecary together. Polk believes the brand has its own energy that people are attracted to, because of the packaging.

“The people we are coming into contact with don’t really
know my brand. To be there and reach people from all walks
of life, is a really amazing gift,” Polk said, adding that it is the
beginning of something truly amazing. For more information
about Zen Soul Apothecary, visit zensoulapothecary.com. For
more information about Truth Be Told at The Study Hotel at
University of Chicago, visit www.truthbetoldtavern.com.

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