Shakespear Rose: NOF Feature in Woodlawn

Company Profile

Shakespear Rose Culinary Kitchen is a Black and woman-owned catering company in Woodlawn. Owner and Chef, Bernita Outlaw, became a Woodlawn resident in 2014. She started Shakespear Rose in 2019, with the mission to provide high-quality catering services to clients in the local area. In addition to providing meals prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Shakespear Rose hosts regular events such as cooking classes and supper clubs.

Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Impact

Shakespear Rose applied to the NOF Program as a start-up and received a grant of $53,000 to aid in building its facility. Grant funds supported the overhaul of an existing 1200 sq feet-structure, including HVAC, roof flashing, plumbing improvements, and electrical work, as well as the installation of a new patio. With a sizable brand-new kitchen, Shakespear Rose’s talented team has the space to create as well as room to grow.

It is Chef Bernita’s intent to expand Shakespear Rose’s services to include a shared kitchen, providing a space to help future chefs on the path to success. She is committed to bringing the ‘farm to-table’ concept to our neighborhoods, the utilization of urban gardens and local farmers markets, and getting families back to the table. 

“None of this would be possible without the help of the NOF Grant and SomerCor. The team at SomerCor made everything fall into place and help with the kinks and hiccups of the project,” said Outlaw. “The NOF Grant helped make what started out as a Capstone Project in culinary school turn into something amazing that I can share with the community. I am eternally grateful.”

Photo Credit: © City of Chicago

Shakespear Rose is Open for Business:

Shakespear Rose’s brand-new facility is located in Woodlawn at 6246 S. St. Lawrence Ave. You can learn more at shakespearroseck.com or on Instagram @shakespear_rose!  

Learn More About the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund

The City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund generates revenue from downtown developments to finance permanent building improvements for small businesses and nonprofits. Administered by SomerCor, NOF grants are for commercial property acquisition, improvement or new construction and can range up to $250,000. If you have a vision to strengthen the commercial corridors in Chicago’s South, Southwest, and West Sides, click here to learn more about the program.