The storefront businesses, all owned by women, are tucked into an enclave on Prairie Avenue in Brookfield, down and across the way from the village post office.
While these businesses are all independent entities, these women have made their evolving business district vibrant by determining that collaborating is better than working alone.
That may be rare, but it works.
“Brookfield, in general, is very up and coming right now, if you look into the real estate market and what’s happening there,” said Julie Magno-Procich, who owns Sister Squared Florist with her sibling, Diane Magno, at 3741 Prairie Ave. The sisters have just begun their third year in space. “We’ve got these shops that are one of a kind.
“We are what they used to call mom and pop stores … though most of us are mom stores,” she said.
Next door, at 3743 Prairie Ave., Eva Lopez is the owner of Healthy Empire, which offers protein shakes, acai bowls and other healthy options. It has been in business since the end of 2023. She is a firm believer that the women-owned businesses coming together at around the same time was no happenstance.
She also pays that forward.
“Every time I have customers that are new, I always let them know, ‘We have a candle shop across the street, her name is Yezenia, she is beautiful, she is lovely, you should go meet her,’” Lopez said, referring to Warm Wick Candle Company, 3734 Prairie Ave., owned by Yezenia Tejeda, who opened her business in 2022.
“I always try to let the community know what we have, and I always tell the girls, if you are doing something, bring me a flyer, bring me this, bring me that, so we can support each other and keep everything local,” Lopez said.
Across the street, you’ll find Fill My Jar, 3726 Prairie Ave., an artisan candy shop that’s unique in that many of its tasty treats are packaged in small-to-large mason jars. Annette Pardun is the owner and was the first of the women to open her business there after she bought her building in early 2020.
Though the term synergy is perhaps overused in business, what’s happening on Prairie Avenue is an example of that. Up the street from Fill My Jar is Krispie’s Bakery, 3730 Prairie Ave., followed by Warm Wick and then Sage and Stone Apothecary, 3736 Prairie Ave.
“When people come in from other areas, not just for my store, but for the other gals, if they are doing an event and they attract people, they come down to do a candle experience at Warm Wick or to go purchase stuff at Krispie’s or something like that, it’s fun because then they’ll be like, Oh my gosh, I didn’t realize there were all these businesses,” Pardun said.
Krista Brazel opened Krispie’s last fall after a stint in downtown Riverside under the name Sips & Sweets. Like most of these businesses, she’s faced tough times, but her friends have been ready to help, including Lysset Castro, owner of Sage and Stone Apothecary.
“I went through some growing pains, I had to let go of a baker,” Brazel recalled. “If I wasn’t up here, Lysset, I would call her, and be like, ‘You know, I need some help,’ and she would be like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got you.’
“We all have each other’s backs.”
Castro, who opened her business about a year ago down the street but pivoted to her current space earlier this year, is unique in that she rents out space in her shop to other women entrepreneurs. Together they provide an offering of holistic wellness products, metaphysical tools, incense, jewelry, crystals, candles and clothing.
Kaylee Stefl, who owns Lady Frankenstein Creations, rents a corner space there.
“I’ve done a lot of craft and vendor shows with a lot of these people, including Krista at Krispie’s,” Stefl said. “So, I already knew them. I was trying to get out of the craft and vendor shows, because it’s a lot of work to have to pack up your stuff and do that, so I was happy to see Lysset got this space and was looking for someone to take over the corner spot.”
As far as Castro is concerned, the spirit of collaboration is what makes Prairie Avenue special.
“When I know that I’m getting a new customer in, I let them know we are all women-owned businesses, we are all friends, we get along,” she said.
Tejeda agreed.
“I love working on Prairie,” she said. “It’s the collaboration, the friendliness, the neighborly love.”
She added, “Everyone looks out for each other.”
