A business focusing on all things mom- and baby-related is set to open next week in the Oak Park Arts District.
The Birth Boutique, opening at 128 Harrison St. in Oak Park, was formed two years ago by Lindsey Monroe, Jen Gold and Lauren Elliott. The three women, who met as neighbors and fellow preschool moms in Forest Park, bonded over their similarly aged children and various birth stories.
They wanted to create a business that would support women and families throughout pregnancy, birth and parenthood, Gold said.
The 800-square-foot boutique will open in time for a May 5 launch party, from 1-4 p.m.
“It seems like the perfect fit for us,” Monroe said. “Being in that eclectic district feels good.”
The business offers labor doula support through pregnancy and labor, as well as postpartum support, helping a family in the early days at home with a newborn. Use of a doula — a woman who coaches and advocates for a mother during and after labor and delivery — has become more common as women seek steady support in hospital settings, Gold said.
“Either you had one and you loved it … or you didn’t have one and wish you had,” Gold said of women who become doulas. “Women like to just have that extra layer of support. … Having that continued physical and emotional support has been shown to be hugely beneficial.”
“It just really changed the projection of motherhood for me,” Monroe said of having a doula.
Monroe, the photographer in the group who has several years of experience as a doula, specializes in birth, newborn and family photography. The shop also will offer childbirth education, parenting prep and other classes and workshops.
In an effort to offer women a place to connect, The Birth Boutique also will have mom meet-ups. Additionally, the space will feature a small retail selection, including gift items for moms and babies.
The group moved on the retail space — which Elliott said was a goal from the start — in March.
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“We’re pretty excited to have a space after being kind of remote and virtual for two years,” Gold said.
The location’s proximity to the CTA Blue Line and Interstate 290 appealed to the three, since many of their clients reside in Chicago, Gold said. And recent growth and change in the arts district seemed to indicate it’s a prime time for that area.
“The size and the location work perfectly,” Gold said.
In the days leading up to the opening, Gold said they were working to give the space a soft, feminine feel with some minor cosmetic work like painting. Elliott said they’re excited about the visibility that will come with their own commercial space.
“I feel like when you have a space, people are like, oh OK, there you are,” Elliott said.
Arts district President Laura Maychruk, owner of The Buzz Cafe and a local real estate agent, leased the space to Gold, Elliott and Monroe. She said she’s excited to see the business join the district.
“It’s very Oak Park,” Maychruk said of the business and its offerings.
The Birth Boutique, 128 Harrison St. in Oak Park, will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and by appointment Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. For more information, visit www.chicagobirthboutique.com.
L’Institut francais d’Oak Park
A French language and literature school filled a vacant space at the eastern end of the arts district late last year.
Stacy Fifer, owner of L’Institut francais d’Oak Park, has set up shop at 11 Harrison St. in Oak Park. The 500-square-foot space offers classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced speakers, and classes that focus on reading and discussion of African novels in French.
Fifer — who has a doctorate degree in French and spent 15 years teaching at the collegiate level, including at the University of Illinois-Chicago — said she wanted to start a school for adults and mature teens to learn French in the area. She began teaching courses locally in fall 2016 and secured her own space on Harrison Street in December 2017.
“It’s pretty exciting to have my own space,” she said. “My student base has been growing.”
Fifer believes in-person communication and assistance is key to understanding a language.
“Without the support of a teacher and real, meaningful conversation with other people, you’re not going to learn the language,” she said.
For more information, visit www.frenchinstitute.net.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.