Welcome to the Brookfield Shops at Progress Park

Supporting Small Businesses

Community Art at the Brookfield Shops

Check out the newest community art at the shops

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Brookfield Shops Hours

Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Additional hours can be found HERE

Big News from the Shops - Vendor Success Story!

Big News from the Brookfield Shops – Vendor Success Story!
We are thrilled to share that New Book Joy has officially opened their own storefront in Brookfield! On May 2nd, friends, family, local leaders, and book lovers joined the ribbon-cutting celebration at their NEW location: 3741 Prairie Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513.

From their time in our retail incubator to now opening the doors to their more permanent home, New Book Joy has brought so much more than books to the community. They have created welcoming spaces for readers of all ages through engaging events, meaningful partnerships, and a true love of storytelling.

Now, this exciting next chapter includes hosting events in their space, helping readers discover their next favorite series, and continuing to build community through the joy of books. We are so proud to have been part of their journey and can’t wait to see all they accomplish next.

Be sure to stop by, show your support, and celebrate this incredible milestone with them! www.newbookjoy.com

About Brookfield Shops

The Village of Brookfield is committed to fostering local entrepreneurship and revitalizing our community.

The Brookfield Shops at Progress Park Program is an innovative retail incubator program created for local entrepreneurs, business owners and artisans. The Brookfield Shops draw inspiration from the success of similar programs in neighboring communities, adapting this proven model to create an exciting opportunity for local entrepreneurs. By bringing this program to Brookfield, we're providing a platform for small businesses to thrive, fostering creativity and strengthening our local economy in a way that's both fun and supportive for our community.

This unique program allows participants to launch and grow their individual businesses in a supportive, collaborative community. With the guidance and resources provided by the Village of Brookfield and local community sponsors and partners, this Program fosters creativity, connection and success for emerging local talent. The retail sheds transform into seasonal mini 12’ x 15’ storefronts from May - December where vendors have the opportunity to rent the space for the season, immersing themselves in a dynamic environment that includes hands-on mentorship and engaging workshops designed to help their businesses thrive. Vendors work together in a collaborative space while they have the chance to individually test the market before taking the leap into full-scale store operations.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions section for The Brookfield Shops! Here, you'll find answers to common inquiries about our innovative retail incubator program. Wondering where we are located, how to get here, or how the program works for our vendors and visitors? You've come to the right place! We're here to provide you with all the details you need to make the most of your experience.

About the Brookfield Shops at Progress Park

About Brookfield

The 6 colorful “sheds” located in the 8 Corners District are part of the Brookfield Shops at Progress Park, a retail incubator administered by the Village of Brookfield. These 12’x15’ spaces serve as mini storefronts for artisans, entrepreneurs, and small business owners looking to test their products in the local market. The “sheds” will be open to shoppers every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May to December.

As a retail incubator program, the Brookfield Shops are designed to strengthen local entrepreneurs, artisans and small business owners by providing them with an affordable and dynamic environment to grow. As both a unique shopping experience and a tailored business program, the Shops connect the 6 vendors with valuable and timely resources - business advising, marketing, industry mentors, and more!

Through the incubator, we encourage vendors to expand their product lines, connect with the Brookfield community, interact with new customers, and host engaging events. After 8 months of operating their mini storefronts, we hope the vendors take the lessons learned while in the incubator and graduate into brick-and-mortar locations, scale their operations, or discover new ways to grow their small businesses!

Every year, the Brookfield Shops open in May and close in December. As such, a cohort of 6 small businesses are invited to operate the 6 mini storefronts. If you are an artisan, artist, or entrepreneur looking to scale your operations and test your products in the Brookfield market, you are welcome to apply to the program!

As a vendor, you would be expected to pay monthly rent and a maintenance fee, as well as maintain the set open hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The cohort is also encouraged to host events, keep their spaces stocked with inventory, and market their mini storefront at the Brookfield Shops.

The vendor application typically opens in October/November with a deadline in early December/January for the next season. Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss the application announcement! (Below)

Thank you for your interest in the Brookfield Shops! As both a shared retail space and a community event venue, there are several ways to get involved! Before the season launches, you could serve on the panel of jurors. Together, the jurors review the vendor applications, listen to pitches, and select the 6 participating businesses. You could also partner with us on the project through financial contributions or in-kind support.

During the open season (May-December), there are ample opportunities to host events, perform your creative talents live on site, and share our posts on socials! For more information, check out how you can get involved here!

In general, retail incubators offer a dynamic solution for activating underutilized spaces while encouraging local economic growth. By providing affordable, short-term retail opportunities and business support, these programs help emerging entrepreneurs test concepts, build customer bases, and gain valuable experience. In turn, they create a steady pipeline of small businesses ready to scale, enrich business corridors, and revitalize vacant commercial spaces.

Unique incubator spaces, such as the Brookfield Shops, are also more than just places to shop - they’re hubs for connection and artistic expression. With frequent on site events, performances, and networking opportunities, incubators help strengthen the nearby community of residents, shoppers, and artists.

Thank You to Our Partners

Our partnerships are the cornerstone of our achievements. Thank you for your dedication and support of the Brookfield Shops at Progress Park.

MONARCH

GROSSDALE

SALT CREEK

BROOKFIELD

REFERRAL PARTNER

Become a Sponsor:

Support the vibrant local business community in the Village of Brookfield by becoming a sponsor of the Brookfield Shops. Sponsorship opportunities are available at all levels, including major Shop sponsorships and in-kind contributions. Your sponsorship helps empower small businesses, foster economic growth and enhances the village's unique charm. Whether through financial support or donated goods and services, your sponsorship makes a meaningful impact on the success of our local businesses and community initiatives. Together, we can strengthen the local economy and create lasting connections within our community.

If you are interested in helping us in making a difference contact

Email: dadasiak@brookfieldil.gov

Tel: (708) 854-2121

More Information

Why Become a Brookfield Shops Vendor

Empowering Your Business

Informational Workshops

Our workshops are designed to empower small businesses with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, including marketing strategies, financial planning, customer engagement, and business growth. Additionally, participants will gain a comprehensive overview of the Retail Incubator Program, including its goals and benefits, application and selection processes, business plan resources, and vendor expectations. Together, these tools and insights will prepare entrepreneurs for a successful journey as part of the program.

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What Vendors Need to Know

Running a business is an exciting endeavor and the Brookfield Shops Program is committed to helping you grow and expand your business. The Program provides vendors with a real-world experience of running and owning a business. From managing day-to-day operations to handling the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship, this Program equips participants with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a supportive, hands-on environment. All vendors are required to pay applicable sales tax to the Village/State and carry insurance for their space and products. Please note businesses that require potable water, onsite heating, or food preparation are not eligible for this program. At the conclusion of the seasonal Program, the chosen vendors will "Graduate" and, upon successful completion of the Program, will receive a stipend towards opening a brick-and-mortar location in the Village of Brookfield. Do not miss this exciting opportunity to bring your business to life!

View a Business Plan Template

Running a business is an exciting endeavor!

The Brookfield Shops at Progress Park Program are committed to helping you succeed. That is why we strongly encourage all applicants to provide a business plan. All vendors are required to pay applicable sales tax to the Village/State and carry insurance for their space and products. Please note businesses that require potable water, onsite heating, or food preparation are not eligible for this program. Do not miss this exciting opportunity to bring your business to life!