Ownership

Women-owned businesses in Chicago, IL

Discover and support women-owned businesses in Chicago, Illinois. Every ownership tag is sourced — never inferred.

6 women-owned businesses in Chicago

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Beauty & Personal Care

Hex Appeal Hair Studio

Chicago, IL

At Hex Appeal Hair Studio, hair is not just an accessory, it is a canvas for self-expression. Tucked into Suite 7 at 5434 North Clark Street in Chicago, this by-appointment-only studio is where creativity and craft meet a little bit of magic. The studio is led by Kelsey, who cheerfully describes herself as the finest queer hair witch in all of Chicagoland. With 15 years behind the chair, Kelsey brings both technical mastery and a genuine love of the work to every appointment. Whether you are after a soft, natural refresh or a bold, fashion-forward transformation, the goal is always the same: a look that feels unmistakably like you. Color is a specialty here. From hand-painted, lived-in tones to vivid all-over fashion colors in every shade imaginable, Hex Appeal designs color that grows out beautifully and stays fresh over time. Curly hair is another point of pride. Cuts are shaped to work with your natural texture, not against it, so your style keeps its shape long after you leave the chair. Haircuts at Hex Appeal are gender-free, because great hair has nothing to do with a label. Alongside cuts and color, the studio offers styling and treatment extras to keep your hair healthy, happy, and camera-ready. Everything is done with vegan practices in mind, a small but meaningful reflection of the care that runs through the whole experience. Because Hex Appeal is a private, appointment-only studio, every visit is unhurried and focused entirely on you. New clients are warmly welcomed, and memberships are available for those who like to keep their look consistently on point. There is even merch for anyone who wants to carry a little of that Hex Appeal energy home. If you have been searching for a stylist who treats your hair like art and your visit like a ritual, Hex Appeal Hair Studio is ready to work some magic. Book an appointment and see what a little enchantment can do.

LGBTQ-ownedWomen-owned

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Restaurants & Food

Jennivee's Bakery

Chicago, IL

At Jennivee's Bakery, we believe everyone deserves good cake. What started as one woman's lifelong love of baking has grown into one of Chicago's most welcoming sweet spots, tucked into the Lakeview neighborhood and open to absolutely everyone. Our founder, Jennivee, is a proud transgender Filipina baker who opened these doors in 2017 to share her confections and to build a space where the LGBTQ community and its allies always feel at home. We are proudly trans-owned, and that spirit of inclusion is baked into everything we do, from the people we welcome at the counter to the care we put into every order. Step inside and you will find cases full of temptations. We are known for our cakes and cupcakes, with more flavors than you can count, alongside brownies, bars, sweet rolls, cheesecakes, cookies, and fresh breakfast pastries. Filipino-inspired favorites like ube, mango, and tres leches sit right beside classic chocolate and vanilla, so there is something for every craving and every celebration. Need a custom cake for a birthday, wedding, or just because? We love turning your ideas into edible art. We are also one of the few bakeries in the city that keeps the lights on late. On weekends you can satisfy a midnight sweet tooth with us, because a good dessert should never have to wait until morning. Grab a cupcake and a coffee, settle in with friends, and enjoy the easy, friendly vibe our regulars rave about. Over the years we have been honored to share our story on television and to see neighbors, first-timers, and out-of-towners become part of our extended family. Every slice we serve carries the same message: you are welcome here, exactly as you are. So whether you are picking up a dozen cupcakes, ordering a showstopping custom cake, or simply popping in for a late-night treat, come indulge responsibly with us. We cannot wait to send you home a little sweeter than you arrived.

Asian-ownedTrans-ownedWomen-ownedLGBTQ-owned

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Restaurants & Food

Nobody's Darling

Chicago, IL

Be nobody's darling. We took our name from Alice Walker's poem, an anthem for the world's outcasts and free spirits, and built a cocktail bar in Andersonville where everybody who has ever felt like nobody's darling finally belongs. We are Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle, two Black, queer women who wanted a room that felt like us: a little Sunday-morning Nina Simone, a little classy and sexy, and always warm enough to linger in. Tucked on the corner of Balmoral and Ravenswood, our space glows red and gold beneath orbiting chandeliers, with a striking silhouette watching over the back bar. Pull up a stool at the long counter and let our bartenders take it from there. The cocktails are the heart of the house, stirred and shaken with intention, and whenever we can we pour spirits made by Black- and queer-owned distillers, because who makes the bottle matters as much as what is inside it. This is a neighborhood joint first. Come for a quiet weeknight nightcap, a first date that runs long, or a Saturday that turns into a whole night with friends. Some evenings the room hums low and easy; others it fills with laughter, music, and the clink of coupes being carried down the bar. Either way, you will find the same thing: honest drinks, no pretense, and a crowd as beautifully mixed as the menu. We opened in 2021 with a simple idea, that a bar can be a home for people too often left out of the party, and the city seemed to agree. A James Beard Award nod followed, along with a steady stream of regulars who became family. But the accolades were never the point. The point is the person walking in alone who leaves knowing a bartender's name, the couple who claim a corner as their own, the strangers who become friends over a shared last round. So consider this your invitation. Whoever you are, however you love, whatever you carried in with you, there is a seat here with your name on it. Be bold. Be free. Be nobody's darling but your own.

Black-ownedLGBTQ-ownedWomen-owned

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Retail & Shops

Women & Children First

Chicago, IL

Women & Children First has been a home for readers, writers, and thinkers in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood since 1979. When Ann Christophersen and Linda Bubon founded the store, they were two young feminists frustrated that the books they wanted to read and study, works by and about women, were so hard to find. They built the shelves themselves, stocked them with feminist and children's literature, and set out to create a space where women's voices sat at the center rather than the margins. More than four decades later, that mission still guides everything we do. Today we are one of the largest feminist bookstores in the United States, carrying roughly 30,000 titles across feminist writing, fiction and poetry, children's and young adult books, LGBTQ+ literature, memoir, politics, cookbooks, art, parenting, and more. We hand-sell the books we love and take pride in helping every reader find the next story that will move them. Our children's section, a favorite among Andersonville families, makes up a meaningful share of what we do, because a lifelong love of reading often starts young. We are also a gathering place. Over the years our events have welcomed voices ranging from Gloria Steinem, Margaret Atwood, and Alice Walker to former President Jimmy Carter, alongside countless debut authors reading in public for the first time. Following renovations that added dedicated event and community space, we host readings, book groups, author panels, and neighborhood gatherings throughout the year. Our 40th anniversary block party filled the street with the community that has sustained us. Under longtime owners Lynn Mooney and Sarah Hollenbeck, we remain proudly independent and deeply rooted in the values we opened with: amplifying women authors, championing intellectual freedom, and building community around books. Whether you are browsing for an afternoon, bringing a child to storytime, or joining us for an evening with a favorite writer, you will find a welcoming, accessible space at 5233 N. Clark Street. Stop in, say hello, and let us help you find your next great read. We have been keeping women and children first for a long time, and we are glad you are here.

Women-ownedLGBTQ-owned

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