The nonprofit Rogers Park Business Alliance is thrilled to announce that the annual Best of Rogers Park Celebration & Awards Presentation will return on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse Ave. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres from Arepa Pa' Los Pana, cocktails served by The Rhapsody Theater, and an awards presentation where members of the Rogers Park community are celebrated for their exemplary contributions to strengthening businesses and building community.
Two complimentary tickets for Best of Rogers Park will be available for RPBA paying members, for whom RSVP is required and can be made at rpba.org. General admission is $30 in advance and $50 at the door.
2025 Best of Rogers Park Awards go to the following businesses and individuals:
Business Leadership – Tesla Training Center
The Business Leadership Award is awarded in recognition of a business that provides hands-on leadership on a community project, improves the quality of life in Rogers Park or expands their business and/or creates additional employment opportunities, especially with an emphasis on local hiring.
Tesla Training Center works with students at all levels to learn the basics of electrical and HVAC-R services. Experienced instructors demonstrate how to master the basics and start a career in these two in-demand fields. Tesla Training Center provides in-person classes with hands-on training in their labs in both English and Spanish and is dedicated to offering the highest quality education for all, with flexible schedules that allow students to work while attending classes.
Becovic Capital Improvement - Wild Onion Market
The Capital Investment Award is given in recognition of an organization, business or individual whose projects include improvements in signage, lighting, and amenities such as awnings, masonry cleaning, tuck-pointing, and window and door replacement. The level of investment shows commitment to the neighborhood.
Wild Onion Market’s recent renovation and opening represent a significant contribution to the local community by enhancing the aesthetic and functional appeal of the neighborhood. Its investment in revitalizing a previously underutilized space has improved the area's visual appeal and increased foot traffic, creating a positive economic impact. Additionally, the space’s transformation fosters a sense of pride within the community, supporting local businesses and elevating the overall environment. Wild Onion Market’s commitment to quality and innovation in design is receiving recognition as a model for future development projects in the neighborhood.
Community Partner - Care for Real
The Community Partner Award is awarded in recognition of an organization, business or individual who goes above and beyond the ordinary to build collaborative activities and projects in the community.
Care for Real focuses on immediate assistance in addressing community needs, such as providing access to food, housing, and mental health resources. By partnering with local organizations, Care for Real ensures that clients receive not only material support but also the tools and resources needed to thrive. It actively involves community members in planning and implementation by listening to the voices of those served, ensuring its initiatives are tailored to the community's specific needs.
Choose Entrepreneur of the Year - Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining
Awarded in recognition of a transformational entrepreneur who has demonstrated exceptional ingenuity, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit in launching, building and growing their venture.
Khamai Cambodian Fine Dining has overcome the odds of opening a multi-faceted business in a high-profile, key commercial corridor. As the only Cambodian restaurant in Chicago, Khami Cambodian Fine Dining has become a renowned establishment not only in Rogers Park, but throughout Chicago.
Friend of Rogers Park – Local Initiatives Support Corporation
The Friend of Rogers Park Award is awarded to an organization, business or individual(s) of prominence who has made a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in Rogers Park.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Chicago) has committed to the Rogers Park community through programming that supports the development and resilience of Rogers Park.
President's Award – Athena Board Games
Special award presented at the discretion of the board president of Rogers Park Business Alliance to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to Rogers Park Business Alliance.
Volunteer of the Year – James Davis, Associate Attorney
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the Rogers Park community by committing a substantial number of volunteer hours over the last year.
James Davis, associate attorney at Minchella and Associates, provided hours of pro bono legal guidance, especially around lease negotiations for multiple businesses in Rogers Park.
Rogers Park Business Alliance is a nonprofit organization that has served Chicago’s diverse Rogers Park neighborhood for 30 years. RPBA works to cultivate and sustain a thriving economic environment in Rogers Park, serving businesses and residents with a variety of public events and business initiatives. RPBA programs include the GROW/PROGRESANDO entrepreneurial training program, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Rogers Park Business Alliance, annual Best of Rogers Park awards, Taco Crawl, and the Glenwood Sunday Market farmers market. For more information, visit RPBA.org.
Images: Past Best of Rogers Park event photos, courtesy of Rogers Park Business Alliance.
