After my short winter pop-up inside 3 Spoons Ice Cream during the 2024–2025 season, I moved into the new year with a big plan: revitalizing a building in Oak Park. I could see the whole vision for it—how it would extend Zemi, how it would anchor us long-term. But when the owner declined my offer, the wind was knocked out of me. I suddenly had no clear path for what would come after my cart season ended in November 2025.

Then an email landed in my inbox.

The Women-Owned Business Network reached out saying a member had seen my story and wanted to explore a partnership. That’s how I first connected with Mary Sommers in June.

She told me about a building she had purchased in Avondale—a space with a coffee shop on the first floor that was preparing to move to a new location. Mary had a vision for the next chapter of that building: a true third space where people could come together, connect, and support one another. She wanted community at the center. But she didn’t want to run the coffee side herself. When she came across my story, she felt an immediate pull—“That’s the person.” And she didn’t even know about the challenges I was facing with my winter operations.

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At first, I hesitated. Avondale was a distance away from my home base in Oak Park. It meant a commute, building a team, and investing time and resources in a neighborhood that didn’t yet know me. But the more conversations we had, the more it became clear that our visions aligned almost perfectly. Her goals echoed what I’ve always believed Zemi could be: a place where coffee is the bridge, not the destination.

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When I met community members, that feeling deepened. They connected not just with me, but with the idea of a café rooted in community—something intentional, welcoming, and people-focused.

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So, I took the leap.

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After some rehab, redesign, licensing hiccups, and the usual opening-week chaos, we officially opened the doors on November 13th. It has been tough, rewarding, humbling, and exhilarating all at once—the natural cocktail of opening a brick-and-mortar.

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Every week, we see new faces. We’re hosting events that bring people together. Sales are climbing. And I’ve built a team I truly hope will grow with me through these cold winter months.

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This partnership is more than a business expansion. It’s a chance to grow Zemi while contributing to a mission that matters: fostering connection and building space for a community to thrive.

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Avondale is creative, diverse, and full of heart. I’m proud to be part of it—and I’m hopeful that Zemi will call it home for many years to come.