On Friday, Feb. 6, Brookfield village officials hosted a graduation ceremony for the 2025 cohort of vendors at the Brookfield Shops, the village’s retail incubator program. The event took place at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
Three of the vendors from the inaugural group — Four Star Coffee Company, the Shop Salon & Style House and New Book Joy — will remain open through December 2026 at the graduate level alongside three new vendors chosen for 2026. The other three — Rites of Wellness, Frost With Us and Organic Jewelry — will not return.
Mandy Genge, one of two co-founders of New Book Joy, receives a certificate of graduation from Popovic. New Book Joy is returning to the Brookfield Shops through December for a second year. Credit: Erica Benson 
Giselle Cortes and Nestor Valencia, the married duo behind Organic Jewelry, receives their certificate of graduation from the retail incubator program. Credit: Erica Benson 
Village Trustee Nicole Gilhooley places a cord around the neck of Lea Afia Bempah, the owner and operator of apothecary shop Rites of Wellness. Credit: Erica Benson 
Kelly Thompson and Kelly Stevens, the daughter- and mother-in-law behind the Shop Salon & Style House, speak with a representative of the First National Bank of Brookfield. Credit: Erica Benson