The first business to open through the City’s South Lawndale Storefront Activation Program turns a long-vacant building at the gateway to 26th Street into a creative home for local artists — opening with Danza Mexica, Chinelo dancers, a ribbon cutting and a private collection featuring works by Héctor Duarte, Diana Solís, Carlos Cortez and Wesley Willis.
CHICAGO — October 6, 2026 — TE-QU, a Southwest-rooted creative home where local artists and culture meet, will celebrate its Grand Opening & Networking Reception on Saturday, October 10, from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 3126 W. 26th St., right beside the Little Village Arch. The celebration is free and open to the public and includes Danza Mexica by Grupo Huehuecoyotl, a ribbon cutting with City and community leaders, the private collection El Museo Entre Las Venas, and a closing performance by Chinelo dancers.
TE-QU is the first business to open through the South Lawndale Small Business Storefront Activation Program, a City of Chicago initiative led locally by the Little Village Chamber of Commerce to bring vacant storefronts back to life along 26th Street — long celebrated as Chicago’s second-highest-grossing shopping district after the Magnificent Mile. For years, the building sat empty at the entrance to the corridor. Now it is a storefront, gallery and gathering space where local artists show, sell and grow their work.
TE-QU was founded by Daniel Silva, who grew up a few blocks away at 25th and Millard and attended Burns Elementary and Farragut Career Academy. Inspired by tequio — the Mexican tradition of community work, where everyone contributes to the common good — TE-QU works alongside artists instead of treating them as design suppliers. Artists keep 70% of every artwork sale, and every piece in the store carries the story of the person who made it.
““I grew up a few blocks from here, and for years this building sat empty at the front door of our neighborhood. Now it’s a home where Southwest Side artists can show and sell their work, and where culture stays in the hands of the people who shape it. La Cultura Has a Home.”
At 4:45 p.m., Saúl Aguirre presents El Museo Entre Las Venas, a private collection featuring works by Eric J. Garcia, Diana Solís, Carlos Cortez, Alejandro Romero, Saúl Aguirre, Esperanza Gama, Miguel Cortez, Carlos Barbarena, René Arceo, Wesley Willis, Héctor Duarte, Janhavi Khemka and Daniel Ramos. The collection brings together the late Chicago icons Carlos Cortez and Wesley Willis with renowned muralists Héctor Duarte and Alejandro Romero, photographer Diana Solís and printmaker René Arceo.
“TE-QU is exactly what the Storefront Activation Program was built for: a neighborhood entrepreneur turning a vacant storefront at the gateway to 26th Street into a destination for residents and visitors,” said Jennifer Aguilar, Executive Director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce. “We’re proud to walk alongside Daniel through our De La Mano program.” [DRAFT QUOTE — JENNIFER TO APPROVE]
Coming next: On Saturday, October 17, TE-QU hosts a pop-up featuring artist Elizabeth BEL Reyes (@kampaneeta), who will debut a new mural and merchandise collection. The day will also feature mariachi and activities with Yollocalli youth.
The Grand Opening is supported by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Road to Recovery Plan and the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, with community partners Los Comales, KASA Screen Printing, Un Dolor, and Sonido del Wero.
| AT A GLANCE
WHAT TE-QU Grand Opening & Networking Reception WHEN Saturday, October 10, 2026 · 12:00–7:00 p.m. WHERE 3126 W. 26th St., Chicago, IL 60623 — next to the Little Village Arch WHO Founder Daniel Silva; Little Village Chamber of Commerce; [officials attending]; Grupo Huehuecoyotl; Saúl Aguirre; Chinelo dancers COST Free and open to the public |
PROGRAM
12:00–3:00 PM Casa Abierta / Open House — store open 3:00–3:45 PM Danza Mexica — Grupo Huehuecoyotl 3:50–4:30 PM Ribbon cutting ceremony 4:45 PM Saúl Aguirre presents El Museo Entre Las Venas 5:00–6:00 PM Refreshments / Bocadillos 6:00–7:00 PM Chinelo dance close-out |
PHOTO & VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES
- 3:00 p.m. Danza Mexica: Aztec ceremonial dance in full regalia by Grupo Huehuecoyotl
- 3:50 p.m. Ribbon cutting with City and community leaders
- 4:45 p.m. Saúl Aguirre presents the private collection El Museo Entre Las Venas
- 6:00 p.m. Chinelo dancers, the carnival tradition from Morelos, Mexico, close out the night
- All day: the storefront beside the Little Village Arch, the artwork and the founder. Interviews available in English and Spanish on request.
ABOUT TE-QU
TE-QU is a Southwest-rooted creative home where local artists and culture meet through art, products, exhibitions and experiences. Founded and owned by Daniel Silva and inspired by tequio, TE-QU gives local artists a home to show, sell and grow their work, so culture stays in the hands of the people who shape it. 3126 W. 26th St., Chicago · te-qu.co · @tequ_co · Choose Culture, Not Trends.
ABOUT THE SOUTH LAWNDALE SMALL BUSINESS STOREFRONT ACTIVATION PROGRAM
Led by the Little Village Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Latinos Progresando, with the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), the program brings local businesses into vacant storefronts along the 26th Street and Cermak Road corridors, with rent support, technical assistance and one-on-one coaching through the Chamber’s De La Mano program. It is funded through Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Road to Recovery Plan.
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