On January 18, Burdeens Chicago, an iconic sports hat and apparel retailer owned by Gerry and Rolando Alvarez, celebrated the grand opening of its second location in the vibrant Little Village neighborhood. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the beloved store, building on decades of legacy in its original Pilsen location with a fresh vision for the future. After finding success at Burdeens’ flagship Pilsen location, the Alvarez brothers decided to make the bold move to open another store in Little Village, a neighborhood known for its thriving commercial corridor and bustling foot traffic. The new 3,100-square-foot store opened at 3255 West 26th Street and now offers an extensive collection of sports hats, apparel, and accessories. The Alvarez brothers will also introduce a new line of merchandise that will reflect the neighborhood’s vibrant Mexican American culture.  Burdeens’ flagship store, formerly known as Soltan Shoes, has been a part of the Pilsen community for decades. Gerry and Rolando’s journey with Burdeens began in the late ’90s as part-time employees at Soltan Shoes, and they worked at the store through high school and college. With support from LISC Chicago, JPMorgan Chase’s Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF), and the City of Chicago’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) grant, the Alvarez brothers purchased and renovated the store and opened it in 2023.  For more information about Burdeens Chicago, please visit burdeenschicago.com/.

Photo Credit: Burdeens Chicago