The South Side is set to come alive again this weekend as “Spend in the Black: Resurrecting the Black Dollar” returns to 75th Street and King Drive on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Created to encourage residents to support Black-owned businesses and keep dollars circulating within the community, the all-day shopping event is expected to bring out more than 100 vendors along with neighborhood businesses, community leaders, and supporters from across the city.
The event, led by Rev. Charlie E. Dates and Ald. William Hall, made a major impact during its inaugural run last year. According to organizers, shoppers spent more than $1 million on goods and services, more than doubling expectations and making the event one of the most powerful one-day showcases of Black economic support in Chicago.
Dates described last year’s turnout as the “single greatest concentration of Black businesses in a single corridor on a single day in our city.” Now, organizers are looking to build on that momentum with an even bigger presence in 2026.
Shoppers can expect a full day of pop-up vendor booths, local businesses open along the 75th Street corridor, live DJs, and a family-friendly atmosphere centered around community, culture, and economic empowerment. Last year’s event featured everything from clothing and specialty goods to food and coffee, with businesses like Brown Sugar Bakery welcoming customers throughout the day.
This year, the event is also adding an even deeper investment component. Organizers announced they will give away 10 emergency savings accounts worth $1,000 each and one $15,000 grant to an entrepreneur participating in Saturday’s event. The goal is not just to support vendors for one day, but to help build long-term Black business success across Chicago.
Hall said the vision goes beyond handing out money, stressing that leaders also want to provide coaching and ongoing support to entrepreneurs so they can continue growing after the event is over.
To make room for the pedestrian-friendly experience, traffic moving north and south on side streets intersecting with 75th Street will be blocked beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and will reopen at midnight Sunday.
The event is free and open to the public, giving neighbors a chance to shop with purpose while directly supporting Black-owned businesses on the South Side.
After generating over $1 million last year, “Spend in the Black” is returning with even more energy, more vendors, and an even bigger reminder of what can happen when the community shows up for its own.
