What began as a daughter’s effort to help her mother find a place to sell handmade baby items has grown into two creative hubs built on community, collaboration and care.
Samantha Frontera co-founded The Holly House Shop with her mother, Becky, opening the first location at 9959 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park about a year and a half ago. A second shop opened last month in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood at 2438 N. Clark St., expanding the concept while keeping its intimate, neighborhood feel.
The idea took shape at home. Frontera said her mother, then 76, was creating baby bibs, blankets and teddy bears but lacked a consistent place to share her work.
“When I saw an empty storefront in Orland Park, I told her, ‘We have to do it,’” Frontera said. “I realized pretty quickly she couldn’t fill a whole shop by herself, so we started asking other creators to join us.”
That decision shaped The Holly House into a collaborative marketplace where local makers rent space and grow together. The shops now feature an ever-changing mix of handcrafted goods, including leather items, goat-milk soaps, baby accessories, jewelry, artwork, ornaments and clothing from local boutiques.
The focus extends beyond shopping. Both locations emphasize experiences that bring people together, including permanent jewelry services and monthly art classes. Mary Knez of Arrow Permanent Jewelry works out of the Orland Park shop, while Alyssa Luke recently joined the Lincoln Park location. Classes range from sugar scrub workshops to other hands-on creative sessions.
“It’s a place where creativity meets happiness,” Frontera said. “People are craving spaces that feel cozy, welcoming and fun, where they can actually do something together.”
The move into Chicago has been met with enthusiasm, Frontera said, noting that the Lincoln Park community quickly embraced the shop’s maker-driven approach.
The most meaningful part of the business, she added, has been watching creators and customers connect.
“I love helping makers find a permanent home,” Frontera said. “Seeing the joy on someone’s face after a class or experience makes all the hard work worth it.”
The journey has included unexpected challenges. Three months after the Orland Park shop opened, Becky Frontera was seriously injured in an accident, leaving her daughter to continue operating the business on her own.
“I made it my mission to keep it open for the creators and small businesses who believed in us,” Frontera said. “I never imagined doing this without my original partner, but some really beautiful people have come into my life, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”
Looking ahead, Frontera hopes to expand the shop’s community reach by securing arts-related grants. The goal is to provide creative classes to children, veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Those interested in classes, private parties or permanent jewelry services can find more information at www.hollyhouseshop.com or by visiting either location.
“If you want an experience, not just a purchase,” Frontera said, “come see us.”
