Lakeview East is one of the best neighborhoods to celebrate Earth Day in. Whether you’re taking a walk on the lakefront, spending an afternoon at one of our green spaces, or dining out during patio season, nature is all around us. Here are some of the local businesses that are focused on sustainability and taking care of our planet. Celebrate Earth Day by visiting any of these local, green-friendly spots and remember: there’s only one planet Earth, so let’s treat it with respect!
Plant Stand Collective | 3247 N. Broadway
Owned by Maria Guasso, Plant Stand Collective is a plant shop located at 3247 N. Broadway. Her business started as a pop-up shop and it eventually had a permanent home in Lakeview East. Along with selling a variety of plants, the store also sells artwork and unique gifts from local vendors. If you buy their plant of the week, you will get 15% off, and a portion of the sales will go to sponsoring a migrant family and providing them with necessities. They are also collecting clothing, clean blankets, shoes, boots, and personal hygiene products for immigrant families and the unhoused community in Chicago. They are currently not accepting summer clothing.
Goldie’s Flowers | 3744 North Broadway
Want to spruce up your space with some beautiful spring flowers? Look no further than Goldie’s Flower Shop! Although known for their wedding designs, Goldie’s also offers affordable bouquets for every day. Get a beautiful bouquet from Goldie’s today!
Uncommon Ground | 3800 N. Clark St.
Along with being a proud farm-to-table establishment, Uncommon Ground in Lakeview is home to Greenstar Brewing. Greenstar Brewing is the first certified organic brewery in Illinois. This guarantees that no pesticides were used to grow any of the ingredients that went into the beer, and the beer is non-GMO. They remove any unnecessary chemicals from the brewing process, so you can be sure that a beer from Greenstar Brewing is as simple as that: a beer.
Fancy Plants Café | 613 W. Briar Pl.
When chef/owner Kevin Schuder learned more about animal welfare, he decided to commit more of his career to cooking vegan cuisine. From there, he has been a successful vegan chef and owner of Fancy Plants Café. Fancy Plants Café is a unique coffee shop and cafe located on W. Briar. This is a 100% vegan establishment that prides itself on being cruelty free. Fancy Plants Café has a warm and inviting atmosphere, and it makes for the perfect place to get some work done or enjoy delicious coffee and vegan treats with a friend.
The Chicago Diner | 3411 N. Halsted
Located in Boystown, the Chicago Diner has been meat free since ’83. The Chicago Diner has the cozy American-style diner vibe and the comfort food to match, but without the meat. They serve up classics reimagined, like veggie burgers, vegan milkshakes, a Radical Reuben with homemade seitan in place of corned beef, and much more! Stop into their location on 3411 N. Halsted to try their mouth-watering vegetarian cuisine!
The Brown Elephant | 812 W. Belmont
The Brown Elephant Resale Shops is your go-to stop for all your clothing and home décor needs. Whether you’re restocking your wardrobe, finding a new outfit, or redecorating your home, you can find it at The Brown Elephant! They are currently accepting any donations. All their proceeds go directly to support LGBTQ+ healthcare and to fund care for the uninsured and under-insured at Howard Brown Health.
Earth Day Market | 3635 N. Clark
Reduce, reuse, and recycle at Gallagher Way’s FREE Earth Day event! From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, they’ve got an amazing line-up of vendors that help make Chicago a greenery place every day. Check out sculptures made out of upcycled materials from Avondale Arts, soaps and balms from Concordia Place, and giveaways from Republic Services! Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern and Hattie B’s are offering 10% off dine-in orders with proof of attendance. Learn about how to be more sustainable while enjoying movies on the Gallagher Way video board.
Juice RX | 3241 N. Broadway
Jam-packed with nutrients, JuiceRx has mastered the art of combining healthy ingredients with tasty and nourishing drinks and bowls. Juice Rx uses fresh, local and non-GMO ingredients to create a variety of juices that will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
Chilam Balam | 3023 N. Broadway
Chilam Balam is a sustainably minded BYOB restaurant serving Mexican shared plates with a farm fresh twist. They strive to provide the tastiest and freshest ingredients while preparing their dishes and other aliments without unnatural additives and ingredients.
Courtesy of Chilam Balam
Wicked Plants | 3240 N. Clark
Wicked Plants is a woman-owned plant shop on Clark Street that has every plant you may want or need. If they don’t have a plant in stock, you can request it by filling out an online form! They even host fun events at the shop, that anyone can attend!
Mount Sinai | 2902 N. Clark
The Mount Sinai Resale Shop has been serving the community since 1982 as a donation-based gift shop. They work in partnership with auction houses, estate sale managers, and a community of donors and supporters that keep precious items out of the landfill, and reused in new spaces. Every donation and purchase continues a shared legacy of reinvesting in the community.
Out of the Closet | 3311 N. Halsted
Located on 3311 N. Halsted, Out of the Closet is a thrift store that benefits the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. This store will donate 96 cents out of each dollar earned to this amazing cause. Out of the Closet also acts as a free HIV testing location.
Halsted Flowers | 2725 N Halsted St
Halsted Flowers offers fresh and gorgeous bouquets and plants to the Lakeview East neighborhood. Add some greenery to your life!
Luna Flowers | 3226 N. Sheffield
Luna Flowers offers flowers for any occasion! Instead of throwing away their day-old flowers, they donate their “buckets of blooms,” which are made into flower arrangements and delivered by organizations. Luna Flowers is offering 10% off this month using the code “April,” so order their gorgeous blooms today!
Pure Green | 3333 N Broadway
Pure Green is dedicated to sustainability and nurturing the planet, and they show their care by sourcing their ingredients from local, organic farms and working with sustainable-focused distributors and vendors. They offer recyclable and compostable packaging and utensils and are proactive about reducing their carbon footprint. If that isn’t enough reason to stop by, their delicious smoothies are sure to get you in the door.
Taste of Egg | 2850 N. Clark
Taste of Egg serves top quality Indian street food with a focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their menu puts a spin on traditional recipes like egg curry, paneer thecha, and tomato half fry, making every dish either vegetarian or plant-based, and still just as delicious. The talents of Chef Sonu Patel and her husband, Harsh, behind the counter and behind the computer keep the business running smoothly, and the food tastefully, and artfully made to perfection.
Jujin Coffee | 2845 N Broadway
Cozy, Kurdish, and completely vegan/vegetarian are all adjectives you could use to describe Jujin Coffee on Broadway! Since opening in early 2026, they’ve garnered a steady stream of support from the community because of their serene interior, plant-based food & drink, and delectable case of pastries. In addition to their signature vegan and vegetarian dishes, they offer seasonal menu items to keep things fresh and exciting for every occasion
