Yellow Banana Illinois Closing

By Emily Blaylock
President & Founder, Untamed Equity

We are really excited and proud to be part of this wonderful project in Chicago. Yellow Banana (isn’t that a great partnership name?) has worked together with the City of Chicago and sponsors as part of a citywide program designated to deliver healthy affordable nutrition to the city. Yellow Banana is purchasing and renovating six Save A Lot stores across the city.

This is a major investment in the deserving communities on Chicago’s South and West sides and will result in an employment boost for the area. Each store will undergo both interior and exterior improvements.

This is going to be a catalyst for these neighborhoods. This project is going to expand access to high quality, affordable and healthy groceries for hard-working Chicagoans who live near these properties. It will sustain at least 100 local jobs, and by extension those families, while increasing traffic in the area to support other local businesses as well.

This project also serves as evidence of the City of Chicago’s commitment to Black-owned businesses and public-private partnerships. We could not be more proud to have been part of bringing this important project to life with a TIF loan.

Emily Blaylock started Untamed Equity in 2022 after spending over 15 years in banking with a focus on Commercial Lending. Her most recent role was Chief Loan Officer for Northwest Bank & Trust Company in Davenport, IA. Emily earned her MBA at Indiana University. She lives in the Quad Cities with her husband and two children where she continues to cheer on the Hoosiers.