Business & Tech
Hot Mama Opening First Chicago Location in Lake View
The clothing retailer will take over three storefronts on Southport Avenue, the Lake View Chamber of Commerce announced Monday.
Clothing retailer Hot Mama announced Monday it plans to open its first Chicago location in Lake View.
Southport Corridor took to its Facebook page Monday morning to break the news. Hot Mama will take over three storefronts on Southport Avenue less than a block north of the Brown Line CTA station.
“Retail Alert: Looks like we will be welcoming Hot Mama to Southport this fall,” the chamber wrote. “They'll be taking up shop at 3440 N. Southport.”
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Sources close to the deal say the lease has officially been signed, but representatives with Hot Mama have yet to comment on the Southport location.
The former Southport Athletic Club will merge with Anthony’s Homemade Italian Ice and Nail Bar later this year to create one massive 5,600-square-foot storefront. The owner of Anthony’s told Patch in July he plans to move down the street to 3528 N. Southport Ave., right next to Southport Grocery & Café.
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The shakeup comes after property investor L3 Capital purchased the buildings in June, with the company’s principal Greg Schott saying he planned to merge the stores to attract a larger retailer.
Hot Mama already has 43 boutique locations nationwide, seven of those in Illinois cities like Evanston, Glenview and Naperville.
The company was born after an awful shopping experience by founder Megan Tamte. It was filled with everything from her struggle to push a stroller through the front door to trying on ill-fitting clothing after having a baby. Shortly after, Hot Mama’s first location cropped up in Minnesota.
“Although this day seemed to be a disaster that I wanted to forget in the moment, I’m thankful for this horrible shopping experience because it changed my life and developed a passion I never knew existed in me,” Tamte wrote on her website. “This was the beginning of the creation of Hot Mama. In the months following this event, I began to dream about a boutique that catered to moms.”
The first location opened in 2004. It’ll join other national retailers on Southport like Lululemon, Athleta and the upcoming Gap.
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