Local Merchants Make 'Conscience Choices' on Accessibility, Environment

Those who Shop Evanston First this holiday season will find many local businesses have taken the community's concerns about inclusion and environment to heart.

Some Chicago-Dempster Street Merchants (CDMA), for example, have found simple ways to become more accessible and eco-conscious. 

Robert Amado, managing owner of the commercial building on Dempster Street between Chicago Avenue and Sherman Place, became the first commercial property owner in Evanston to install the BigBell system for each of his tenants' entryways, making the entire building accessible for customers who use wheelchairs or have other disabilities.

The building, like many other older buildings in Evanston, has a step-up entry, making accessibility difficult for those with disabilities. 

 While new construction must meet strict accessibility regulations for street-level entry, older buildings are only required to make  "readily achievable" (i.e., cost-effective) changes to ensure accessibility. Though Mr. Amado said he knew he was not required to rebuild his tenants' entryways, he understood that giving all customers a chance to enter was the right thing to do.

BigBell consists of a wireless alert system - a doorbell with an oversized touchpad that can be activated by customers with disabilities, giving them an easy means by which to request assistance.  The addition of a light-weight, portable ramp that the store owner can set down when a customer needs assistance completes the BigBell accessibility solution. Many other merchants in this bustling shopping area have also installed BigBell, a product of Inclusion Solutions, to welcome all individuals to their shops and provide a consistent customer-friendly philosophy to everyone.

In addition, merchants in this eco-conscious neighborhood are taking active steps to protect the environment. The CDMA has a "Red Bag Campaign" that  includes distribution of their cloth reusable bags to shoppers at the YEA! festival in  the spring, the CDMA summer sidewalk sale and the Evanston Farmers Market.

Other shops are doing their part for the environment as well. Secret Treasures, 611  Dempster St., gives customers recycled paper and bags to hold their vintage purchases. Bagel Art, 1307 Chicago Ave., uses locally grown and organic products when  available. And Shaker Traditions, 613 Dempster St., and FolkWorks Gallery, 1310  Chicago Ave., sell only products made in the United States.

Downtown Evanston Website Enhanced

Downtown Evanston has a newly expanded website to familiarize newcomers and holiday visitors with shopping opportunities. 

Visitors to the site - www.evmark.org - can search more than 300 businesses by name, category and key word and click through to their websites. There is also an eight-minute holiday podcast which "walks" visitors through the 34 block downtown, calling out individual stores and their holiday wares.

The site also contains a map of downtown parking garages and a downloadable directory with all downtown businesses and a locator map.