Melody Mercado

Talked about my @blockclubchi.bsky.social story on the recent student walk-out with WBBM’s Rob Hart, Bloomberg News’ Shruti Singh and the Chicago Tribune‘s Talia Soglin on @wttw.bsky.social’s “Chicago Tonight.” www.youtube.com/live/7vDwJzU...

Know of a participating indie business missing from @blockclubchi.bsky.social list? Email newsroom@blockclubchi.org.

Gino & Marty’s Mired In Debt And Legal Troubles, But Owner Of West Loop Restaurant Vows A Comeback Once a celebrity hangout, the Randolph Street restaurant is facing eviction, tax liens and more than a dozen wage-theft complaints while owner Gino Bartucci makes new plans for the space.

In November, my investigation broke the news that Gino & Marty's was facing eviction, tax liens and more than a dozen wage-theft complaints...all while the owner was still planning to reopen the restaurant this spring.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/g...

Gino And Marty’s Owners Sued By Illinois Labor Department Over Unpaid Wages State officials allege owners and managers of the West Loop restaurant failed to pay workers earned wages, tips, minimum wage and overtime, leaving at least nine employees owed more than $20,000.

An update on West Loop Restaurant Gino And Marty’s

The owners are being sued by the Illinois DOL for unpaid wages...so far, a preliminary investigation shows at least 9 employees are owed a combined $26k

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/30/g...

The frigid temperatures aren’t chilling the news here in Chicago.

See what @blockclubchi.bsky.social reporters captured while covering the city’s neighborhoods this week.
This Week In Photos: Chicagoans Brace For Dangerous Cold, Bears Season Ends And Much More
blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/23/t...

“If we leave, then what? If there aren’t people who will sacrifice themselves to keep the history alive, what are we doing? Especially now with Raising Cane’s, I’m like, does anybody care? I feel like an old lady shaking my fist at the sky,” Leipold said.

Scratch Goods - a handmade skincare boutique - has been in the neighborhood since 2017. Their rent has tripled, and they've moved three times.

Elizabeth Leipold and Maureen McClure are asking themselves, can they afford to stay?

How Chains Are Changing Fulton Market, Once The Hot Spot For Indie Restaurants, Retailers Raising Cane's record-setting Randolph Street lease and other chains are driving up rents and fueling fears that Fulton Market’s local character is being priced out.

Raising Cane's set a record, paying about $100 a square foot to be in Fulton Market. Reformation just signed at $140 a square foot. Randolph Street has turned into "national logo soup."

What does this mean for the local businesses trying to stay alive?

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/14/h...

How Chains Are Changing Fulton Market, Once The Hot Spot For Indie Restaurants, Retailers Raising Cane's record-setting Randolph Street lease and other chains are driving up rents and fueling fears that Fulton Market’s local character is being priced out.

by @themelodymercado.bsky.social. Raising Cane’s record-setting Randolph Street lease and other chains are driving up rents and fueling fears that Fulton Market’s local character is being priced out. blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/14/h... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

Pe Erre Domino Club Coming to Humboldt Park's Paseo Boricua An all-ages social club aimed at preserving the game of dominoes, a Puerto Rican cultural tradition, is set to open this summer with classes and tournaments.

An all-ages social club aimed at preserving the game of dominoes, a Puerto Rican cultural tradition, is set to open this summer with classes and tournaments in Humboldt Park's Paseo Borikén. blockclubchi.co/43W5ZMv

Political Group Wants Alderman To Apologize For Falsely Linking It To DC Shooting Suspect Ald. Ray Lopez and Iris Martinez, Cook County Circuit Court clerk, were among those who shared posts falsely linking Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and other progressive politicians to alleged gunman ...

A local progressive political group is threatening legal action against an alderman who falsely tried to link them to Elias Rodriguez, the man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. blockclubchicago.org/2025/05/23/p... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

Week in Review: City Council Blocks Jan. 6 Rioters From City Jobs; Police Misconduct Budget Almost Exhausted Former President Joe Biden returns to the national stage — calling out the Trump administration’s actions on Social Security. And alderpeople are blocking Jan. 6 rioters from working with the city.

Chicago Tonight | Week in Review: City Council Blocks Jan. 6 Rioters From City Jobs; Police Misconduct Budget Almost Exhausted, with @sdaniels27.bsky.social @heathercherone.bsky.social @elviamalagon.bsky.social @themelodymercado.bsky.social & host @brandisfriedman.bsky.social

Water Tower Place 'Past Its Prime' As A Mall— But Mag Mile Recovery In Full Swing, Backers Say The upper floors of the Michigan Avenue mall — which has seen many vacancies in recent years — will be converted into office and medical space, while the first three floors will remain retail, city of...

Water Tower Place 'Past Its Prime' As A Mall— But Mag Mile Recovery In Full Swing, Backers Say

Vacancy dropped on Mag Mile from 33% to 26% with new spots like Aritzia, Alo Yoga & Hershey Experience.

Coming soon: Harry Potter Shop, Mango & Uniqlo.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/07/w...

Lakshmi is hoping to reach $5 million in financing. If Puja reaches $2 million she can pitch the project to her dream male lead - Jim Carrey.

Those interested in investing in “Lakshmi” can email Puja at pujaofficial1111@gmail.com

“If you had an arranged marriage and then you, like, stumble into first love at 60 years old, that’s hilarious and a lot,” Puja said. “I feel like it’s enough to just navigate falling in love when you’re young … and then there’s this other idea [that’s] it’s never too late.”

Week in Review: Pritzker Says Education Department Cuts Could Cost State $3B; Downtown Shooting Revives Curfew Talk What Trump’s Education Department overhaul could mean for Illinois students. And could an earlier downtown curfew cut crime?

Week in Review: Pritzker Says Education Department Cuts Could Cost State $3B; Downtown Shooting Revives Curfew Talk with @mitchtrout.bsky.social @themelodymercado.bsky.social Rufus Williams, Nader Issa and host @amandavinicky.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/14/w...

Logan Square Business Owners Ask For Support As Another Construction Season Begins Traffic will be rerouted as work starts this week on the inner ring of the traffic circle and on the south side of Milwaukee between Diversey/Kimball and Logan Boulevard.

Ready or not, here we go again. The next phase of work on Milwaukee Avenue b/w Diversey/Kimball and Logan, and the Logan Square traffic circle's new traffic pattern and closure, kicks off this week, which has nearby business owners nervous amid an already slow season.
blockclubchi.co/4h8Yfez

Godzilla Descends On Chicago In New Comic Book, With Nods To Dibs, Svengoolie And Dave Matthews' Bus Released Wednesday, "Godzilla Vs. Chicago" features two Portage Park artists. The Seventh Corner Gallery is hosting an art show celebrating the release on Friday.

In the latest Godzilla comic book, the King of the Monsters descends upon Chicago and hits all the classic spots, literally

The Blue Line, Lollapalooza and Indiana all take a beating in “Godzilla Vs. Chicago”

blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/27/g...

Western Brown Line Bus Stop Temporarily Relocating During Lincoln Square Construction The northbound #49 and #X49 buses, which normally stop at the CTA station, will now stop farther south at the corner of Western and Eastwood avenues, officials said.

Construction is underway on several projects at Leland and Western avenues in Lincoln Square that will require northbound commuters who catch the bus at the Western Brown Line stop to adapt their route slightly. blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/28/w... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

The conversation took place before the meeting started.

An explicit word can be heard at the 04:27 mark in the recording—then a conversation identifying several alders on the floor and then an unknown public speaker.

Clerk's Office says the video will not be edited.

Chaotic Committee Meeting Video Briefly Removed After 'Improper' Ask From Mayor's Office, Clerk Says A Mayor's Office request led to the brief removal of video from a heated public committee meeting Tuesday. The City Clerk said the recording was improperly removed and has since been restored.

Chaotic Committee Meeting Video Briefly Removed After 'Improper' Ask From Mayor's Office, Clerk Says

The Mayor's Office requested the removal of the first 8 mins of the video after the live broadcast aired a conversation between 2 unidentified people

blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/06/c...

Can The Google Effect Revive The Loop? Experts Say Yes Experts say the Loop is showing signs of a potential economic boom thanks to the tech giant's purchase of the Thompson Center and reinvestment in the area.

Can The Google Effect Revive The Loop? Experts I spoke to say the revitalization of the Thompson Center + Revitalize LaSalle is starting to show signs of an upcoming economic boom for the Loop.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/27/c...

🙏🏽 thank you Corli!!

“To say this will guarantee generational wealth building I think is a strong statement...could it possibly lead to that? Yes, it could, but there’s some big caveats there," one expert told me.

If the casino never opens/goes out of business - you lose your money. Depending on the investment tier, it will take a minimum of 3-5 years to get paid dividends.

At the same time - Bally's is seeking a tax incentive that it claims is essential for its completion

Bally's Chicago Wants Women, Minorities To Invest In New Casino — But Is It A Safe Bet? Bally's officials estimate its Chicago casino could generate up to $1.2 billion in revenue annually. But if the casino doesn't open or it folds, investors would lose all their money, according to inve...

I spoke with two financial experts on Bally's “minority investment” offer plus dove into the 200+ page deal. Here’s what I learned.

Big takeaway: you aren’t guaranteed a return on investment

blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/24/b...

Week in Review: End of the Line for Dorval Carter at CTA; First Partially Elected School Board Sworn In Chicago gets its first elected school board members. And former House Speaker Michael Madigan explains his “making out like bandits” remark.

Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review: End of the Line for Dorval Carter at CTA; First Partially Elected School Board Sworn In, with @themelodymercado.bsky.social Laure Washington, @alexnitkin.bsky.social Megan Crepeau & host @amandavinicky.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/01/17/w...

In 'Searching For Justice,' A Cast Impacted By The Prison System Explores Criminal Justice Reforms
The sold-out show by Mud Theatre Project, a nonprofit founded by a recently exonerated man, premieres tonight @ Steppenwolf.
via @ataviawrotethis.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/16/i...

I'll be OOO next week for a fiscal reporting workshop, where I'll be diving deep into topics like budgets, bonds, incentives, housing, and more. I'm excited to learn and hope to bring back some great ideas for 2025!

Until then send tips to - Newsroom@blockclubchi.org