Eli Schulman believed baking was an art. So when he created the very first Eli’s Cheesecake as the signature dessert for his award-winning restaurant, Eli’s the Place for Steak, a legend for 39 years, his customers proclaimed it “Chicago’s Finest.” With the same care and dedication demonstrated by Eli himself, The Eli’s Cheesecake Company, a family owned business, has been baking up delicious cheesecakes and other desserts since 1980.
At Eli’s, they slow bake their cheesecakes in small batches, taking the time to allow the ingredients to develop to their optimum flavors…the key to achieving Eli’s unique taste and texture. Eli’s prefers using regional ingredients from local farms and producers who share Eli’s commitment to quality. The Eli’s Cheesecake Company is the country’s largest specialty cheesecake bakery, creating 50+ varieties of cheesecakes and delicious desserts in Chicago since 1980. It is their mission to support local farmers, vendors and small businesses whenever possible.

Wood is good for Frank A Edmunds & Co., which manufactures wooden products such as dowels, posts, and other turnings as well as wooden displays, moldings, and custom pieces. Its turning products include balls, craft items, furniture parts, game parts, handles, knobs, spindles, and novelty items. Moldings include architectural moldings, frames, and furniture parts. The company also makes specialty parts (CNC work, rollers, specialty finishing, assembling, packaging, and order fulfillment) and through its F.A. Edmunds unit, makes fine needlework and quilting frames.

BBands is a for-profit social venture that empowers girls and women through two-toned, colorful sports headbands with inspirational tags. BBands allow girls to show off their individuality and flair while working out, playing sports, or otherwise leading an active lifestyle. They offer a variety of colorful, comfortable headbands from their Chicago based location.

Caribbean American Baking Company is the producer and re-seller of the finest Jamaican Style baked products in the Midwest. They sell to both the retail and wholesale market, supplying a variety of Caribbean and African stores with an abundance of products. Some of their products include Patties, Breads & Buns, Cakes & pastries, Easter Buns and Jerk Cuisine.

Since its beginnings in 1995, Busy Beaver Button Company has gone from a one-woman operation in Christen Carter’s college apartment to a company with fifteen employees. Over the last 17 years, the Busy Beaver crew has overseen over 60,000 designs and produced millions of custom buttons for clients like Brooklyn Brewery, NBC Entertainment, The Art Institute of Chicago, Threadless, and WordPress as well as thousands of bands, non-profits, and small businesses.

In Sight Sign Company specializes in creative, high-quality and affordable business signage solutions for all customers and industries. They dedicate themselves to a responsive customer-first approach in all of their services, and guarantee that they will exceed expectations every single time with the signs that they provide. In Sight Sign Company is your source for vinyl signs, banners and car wraps in Chicago.

Imada, Inc. provides durable, accurate and precise strength, hardness, torque and force measurement instruments and related force measurement type equipment to a variety of industries — aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, food and beverage, packaging, construction equipment, etc.

Their force measurement formula for success is to deliver high quality instruments, at affordable prices, backed by an efficient four-point customer service plan. First they start off with easily attainable technical support provided by a knowledgeable and experienced sales/engineering staff. Their second point revolves around their fast delivery – most Force Measurement items can be shipped the same day with their available large in-house inventory. They also have readily available custom applications to address any customer needs. Finally they utilize fast calibration and repair with 24-hour turn around emergency service to provide quality customer service.

IMADA Inc. is committed to the quality of their ergonomically designed, easy-to-use instruments by achieving an ISO 9001 quality assurance program and ISO/IEC 17025 Testing and Calibration Laboratory accreditation. They stand behind their products with a 2-year warranty on all gauges and stands.

Rare Dirndl is redefining traditional German dirndls and dirndl accessories, making them more fashionable and flirty for women who are proud of their heritage. As an active member of the German community in Chicago, owner and designer Erika Neumayer found herself extraordinarily bored with the dirndls available in the US. In 2010, she launched Rare Dirndl, modernizing the traditional dirndl and creating designs that can be worn everyday without losing the essence of their Southern German/Bavarian and Austrian roots. Neumayer designs dirndls that women want to wear whether they are have a special occasion in the German community or they are just grabbing a drink with friends. She uses unique textiles, trims and design elements that are new to the dirndl world, such as spikes, suede, bold prints and modern colors. Rare Dirndl is one of 3 companies in the United States making dirndls, and the only company creating custom made and bridal dirndls.

La Criolla, Inc. is a Latino-owned business that has built its reputation on the high standards of quality established in 1957. They offer artisanal, custom-blended Hispanic spices, blends, and herbs that taste like home. Their product line also includes beans, olives, pasta, flours and other all-natural, authentic Hispanic food products.

You can find their products in Walmart, Tony's Produce, Pete's Produce, and Cermak Fresh Produce.