Local Women Make a Mark in Southwest Illinois

Celebrate the women business owners of the region during National Women's Month.

Hard work. Determination. Women business owners in the region all have those skills in common. And more ...

"Women won the right to vote 100 years ago but there is a lot left that needs to happen,” says Lisa Ybarra, owner of Chava's Mexican Grill in Edwardsville. Ybarra left the corporate world seven years ago to open her own business in Edwardsville. That journey has been fulfilling and, in some ways, more difficult than she imagined.

Lisa Ybarra of Chava's Mexican Grill serves up a signature margarita at her Edwardsville restaurant.

“I was ready to do something else with my life,” Ybarra muses while sitting in her brightly decorated downtown Edwardsville restaurant. The aromas of grilled meat and vegetables lingers in the air and the sound of sizzling fajitas served to customers adds to the atmosphere as Ybarra adds, “Owning my own restaurant has been harder in some ways than I had thought. There is an assumption about a woman’s inability to run a business by herself. So you have to be smarter and realize there is the potential for prejudice against women.”

Ybarra has solidified her place in the Edwardsville business community and works to mentor other women who are interested in starting their own business. Hearing from other women who have made it in the world of small business ownership is meaningful, she notes.

“I always ask, ‘how can I help other women’,” she says. “And I tell people women just need to keep their foot on the gas and they will be fine. This is a good time to be a business owner and a good time to be a woman business owner. There is nothing we can’t do. We just have to push the envelope a little bit.”

Cathy Ponder of Bluff City Grill in Alton

Alton restaurant owner Cathy Ponder has dreamed of owning her own business since she was 16. Her dream came true in 2013 when she opened Bluff City Grill.

“I always thought I would own a small bar but Bluff City Grill turned out to be much larger than that,” she says. When she opened the restaurant, it was housed in a smaller building that she leased. An opportunity came up to purchase the former Eagle Lodge on Broadway Street in Alton and Ponder jumped at the opportunity. That decision opened up a wider world for the business and Gross.

“I think to be successful, as a woman in business, you have to lead by example. People have so much more respect for you if you work with them.”

Morrison's Irish Pub, located in the heart of Alton's entertainment district, is owned by Mary and Lisa Morrison along with their daughter Katie. The three women established the pub in 2018 as they followed their dream of owning a business.

The Briar Rose, a consignment store in downtown Litchfield, IL is a woman owned small business.

For Danell Fogle, owner of Briar Rose in downtown Litchfield, being the owner of a business seem like a natural step. She had worked for a small electrical business owned by a husband and wife team. It was there she learned the ropes and prepared to become a business owner herself.

"If a woman wants to own her own business, I would encourage them to do it," Fogle says.

Women in Business

Here is a list of more women business owners in Great Rivers & Routes:

Alton
Jen Farley, Kim Tanner, and Melissa Bland have been redefining vintage shopping along Broadway in Alton with their beloved shops, Persnickety by Jen Farley, Strangelovely, and Honeybee Vintage. Each brings a distinct sense of style while capturing the heart of community.

When it comes to food and drink creativity, Brown Bag Bistro and Old Bakery Beer lead the way. Mother-daughter duo Chris and Erin Velloff, and Old Bakery Beer's Lauren Pattan, elevate everyday favorites like sandwiches and beer into award-winning creations that are anything but ordinary.

Collinsville
Donna Green is serving up the creamiest frozen custard and the strongest sense of chill at Uptown Scoops, right off Route 66.

Edwardsville
Megan Pashea serves up memorable Sunday brunch, lunch, and dinner at 1818 Chophouse, where elevated comfort meets classic steakhouse flair.

Jamie Shrum, owner of SoCal Soul, brings sunshine and plant-mom vibes to the region with a one-of-a-kind plant shop offering education and plant care of all kinds.

Grafton
Deborah Beasley of Beasley Fish Stand knows one thing for sure: it’s always the perfect time for hot fish by the river. She’s dedicated to giving both visitors and locals the perfect spot to enjoy it.

Granite City
Brenda Whitaker, a true cheerleader of the community, is the driving force behind Garden Gate Tea Room, The novel idea Boardgamery, and The Speakeasy, serving everyone from kids to adults with her boundless energy and passion.

Litchfield
Jeanmarie Jublet’s family has been the owners and operators of Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant since 1922. They offer plenty of fresh bakery treats along with fresh tasty food and drinks to keep anyone satisfied.