UKRAINIAN VILLAGE — Sprout Home, a garden center just south of the busy Damen and Chicago avenues intersection in Ukrainian Village, has added a second storefront for kitchen wares and entertaining that's directly across the street from its main shop.
Located at 744 N. Damen Ave., around the corner from Mariano's, Sprout Home Kitchen and Table opened on Sunday. The new store is primarily focused on table ware, dishes and other home goods.
"Now we need to construct a bridge across Damen," joked Sprout Home's owner Tara Heibel, who launched her flagship store at 745 N. Damen Ave. in 2003.
Heibel said that the impetus for expansion was based on the fact that the storefronts across the street had been empty for several years but just recently started to fill up.
"Staring at the empty storefront definitely gave us many ideas for expansion," she said.
The new Sprout store, about 865 square feet, is the fourth and last tenant to join the Damen Avenue retail complex, which also houses Dream Dinners, a clothing boutique and a salon.
"We had a really nice opening [on Sunday]. We didn't really publicize it, but a lot of clients that have been with us for 14 years came by and wished us well. It was enlightening. You don't know what to expect on a gloomy day, it was super overcast and gross," Heibel said.
Forthcoming by the end of the week, Sprout will also unveil its first line of dinner and side plates, Heibel said.
In advance of Mother's Day on Sunday, a Sprout Facebook post suggests linen aprons, charcoal-infused dish towels, handmade serving sets made with sustainable wood handles and brass bowls as gift ideas.
Sprout Home Kitchen and Table, 744 N. Damen Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Ph: 312-226-9650.
Inside Sprout Home Kitchen and Table. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
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