Lincoln Square Chamber Expands to Serve Ravenswood

The Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce could increase its membership by more than 100 after announcing an expansion into Ravenswood.

The new Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce will serve businesses in both communities and is a win-win for everyone, said Melissa Flynn, the chamber’s executive director.

The Ravenswood Chamber disbanded in January 2010 and since then, Flynn said the city asked the Lincoln Square Chamber to expand.

“This has been in the works for a while now,” Flynn said. “It’s an opportunity to really unify the community.”

Flynn said some Ravenswood businesses have been in the chamber for years. They loved the idea of an official expansion, but didn’t want to lose their Ravenswood identity.

With the change, new signs can be seen in the area saying, “Four great places to shop local,” with the Montrose, Damen, Western and Rockwell CTA stops listed.

The chamber’s new borders include the Chicago River to Ravenswood Avenue on the east and west, and Foster to Montrose avenues on the north and south.

“Being located at the corner of Montrose and Damen, we have always thought of ourselves as being part of both the Ravenswood and the Lincoln Square communities, now the name directly reflects that. We have benefited tremendously by our involvement with the Chamber, and we know our Ravenswood neighbors will reap the same benefits we have,” said Darby Putnam in a news release. Putnam is the owner of Fountainhead and chamber vice president.