Little American Dream Factory: Chicago Bureaucrats Put the Brakes on an Innovative Business 

I lived in Chicago for 14 years. In my opinion, the corruption and cronyism is beyond comprehension. Hell, the state even had two ex-governors in prison at the same time. Is there any wonder the city and state are always on the brink of financial failure?

Look at her teary eyes at 4:18. They really broke that poor woman's heart. So sad.

This kind of crap is why we left Illinois

You need to study Chicago's political history. Cash, under the table, in the pockets of those politicians will get what you want approved overnight.

This is why we fought and won the American Revolution, to escape tyranny.

Do you think Henry Ford would have stood a chance at starting his company these days?

wow... Since when could food inspectors just start destroying food like that? Maybe it's a Chicago thing, but all I've ever heard of inspectors doing was filing reports and issuing citations and fines.

I had a metal fabrication business for 25 years. Said screw it last year and shut it down. Too many regulations and fees.

This is the problem when a country is run by lawyers you are bogged down by bureaucracy

I can't help but wonder what Communist would vote down this video. The people really need to take back control of government at all levels. This is just one example of what must be many more small businesses being regulated into oblivion. Very sad.

"Nice little business you have here, too bad if something would happen to it. If you pay us for protection it will be OK"

too bad she is NOT related to any of these paper pushers at the city or state...she would have never had any problems then...

Unfortunately the small business owners cannot afford the big political parties. Job creation is not the true focus of those parties. It's a great catch frase but what they really mean is they will keep big business from having to maintain expensive middle class workforce standards.

A business license: your right to work is stolen by government and sold back to you.

Biggest lie ever. "I'm from the government and I'm just here to help."

Sounds like San Francisco. Some businesses don't even start there and go elsewhere, or just give up after months or years of being jerked around.

If we had theses laws back when our country was just starting the USA would just be a forest with no people today

In 1993 I tried starting a Food Truck and I had designed My own and even had all the schematics by Me and 2 electricians, We went to City Hall and denied repeatedly for 10 years, I revised the plans to suit them and even worked with the board of health. I'm sure most of My ideas we taken and used for the new generation of entrepreneurs of the 2000's. I gave up, and Now you have about 200 food trucks in the city. I no longer live in Chicago. But, I fought for years.

It seems like there may be a case for financial damages perpetrated by the city against this business. Surely there has to be some recourse against overreaching governments.

Chicago: kills innovative business Peoria Ill: hold my beer

We need a private, clandestine, citizens group (militia?) that can be called upon in situations like this to handle 'aggressive' negotiations. An Avenging Angel.

It was always about the fees and bribes. *She should have contributed amply to Obama and Chicago Democrats and she'd still be in business.*

I was ordered to cease and desist for selling wrapped chocolate bars to classmates without a food license. This is how chain franchises stay in business. Communal property hurts corporate interests.

And things like this folks is why Chicago is constantly shooting itself in it's foot. They say that they want new business then they do things like this to their new potential business owners.

Don't overlook the property owners who got screwed too because it's too hard to rent a storefront and start a business.

Who in their right mind would ever want to live in Chicago? New York? California?

Inspector's couldn't collect their bribes.

Government "Helping"

That is so sad. You can see the heartbreak in her eyes. They took her dream out back and smothered it to death.

It's Chicago.....you weren't corrupt enough. Didn't apply enough grease to the Democrat palms.

Wow, this is just insane. This woman was an entrepreneur that created a sustainable legal business to help the community but was treated as if she was running some hole-in-the-wall criminal enterprise.

WOW - This is worth watching - and passing on.

Governments that continue to shut down the small business all the time especially when it comes to the business that does things out of the box. This should not have happened. Bring back support for the small business.

It's not called 'corruption'. It's called business as usual, and the fact is, corruption is so much a part of the system, Chicago bureaucrats and all others like them, don't even know it. To them, this is normal and they are good.

I wonder if she votes Republican and they found out. This is Chicago and that's how Chicago-machine politics works.

Great idea. Stupid, corrupt government. Yes, I live in Chicago. I have all my life. But the day after I retire in three years, I'm gone !

Here in Maywood it’s like it’s a business to keep these stores boarded up and not in use. But, when someone wants to put a gaming room that also serves alcohol it’s all good and they can open up ASAP

It’s 2019 now and I wonder if having a new Governor and Mayor in office will make a difference? Please don’t give up. This is a great idea. We need more innovative businesses like yours. Good Luck!

You need a license to sell food commercially but you don't need a license to cook food whether you intend to sell it or not. This is just how desperate the city has become

It's so sad to watch someone's eyes well up with tears when they're talking about something that they care a lot about, that now causes them pain. I hope she's able to reopen someday.

I left Chicago 25 years ago and the only time I had any issues was when I lived in a democrat led city/state. Didn't stay long at any of those places and life is good!!

More license more money. Only concern of city

Yup... I went through this in the massage therapy industry. I needed my own business and therapist license to work in each city i made house calls in. My therapist license was $250 every 2 years and if i worked on 1 person in a town i needed a license to work in that town. Crest Hill wanted 10k for a business license and no matter how many massages i did in that town it would never be worth the cost of the license to work there. When i worked at a business i needed my own license as well because you are considered a subcontractor and not an actual employee of the business. This way the business is not liable if you hurt some one. The red tape in Illinois is insane!

But wait Rom Emanuel was such a wonderful leader !

New argument : "This my home where I live and these are my guests who I graciously allow to practice their skills. This not only gives access to a very large space ... you have an area to do as your creativity grows. Closing : As this is a private residence, I don't need a license or any permits from city, county or state.

And this is why I refused to spend any of my money in Chicago. It doesn't deserve it.

Some people must learn to conduct their business no matter the opinions of arrogant bureaucrats. The trick is to have one active corporation and several inactive corporations ready to make active. When the bureaucratic fines pile up, close and bankrupt the active corporation and reopen under a new corporation. The bureaucrats will have a tough time imposing fines when there is no person to go after due to corporate immunity. Unfortunately, it is sometimes necessary to play the same evil game the bureaucrats play. Ultimately, we must ram freedom down the throats of arrogant bureaucrats who have the gall to believe that they are monarchs. It is time to take back our democracy, no matter the feelings of arrogant and useless bureaucracy.

How do I earn a right to interfere with voluntary transactions? How do I earn a right to take a share, cut or fee? How do I earn a right to be the "permission giver". Her mistake is all our mistakes, tolerating the concept of a "license". All laws which seek to inhibit voluntary exchange are establishments of involuntary exchange (slavery) to some degree. They are all immoral. If you want to make or buy or sell cookies, it's nobody's business but you and your customers. Nobody can earn a right to control another person.

seeing part of this video, I can tell that this was killed because Chicago thought that these people should be paying the city to fail instead of paying someone else to succeed.

First rule of entrepreneurship. Never start a business in a state hostile towards business (i.e. one where democrats are in the majority).

Not to mention us average workers, the tax here are seeping out our existence. I earn $600 a week (15/hr), but the income that I receive is $457.71. Freaking Hell bruh. Can't wait to move out from this hell hole.

Lots of places require just a plain old "business license." Some only require that if you want to be a DBA using a non-entity name, such as Bob Smith dba Grocery Stop. Most places where I've lived it's USD $100.00 or less and you fill out a form. Having an attorney form any kind of corporation, such as Grocery Stop (an S-Corp or LLC or whatever) costs a lot more but doesn't require any kind of licensing just to operate - you still need licensing to be an electrician or barber or beautician (and frankly, you should need licensing for all those things). A Beautician's license in my area won't allow the operator to use a straight razor for any reason - including feathering hair - because they don't teach how to use that tool safely and effectively in Beauty School. A Barber's license won't allow the operator to dye hair different colors for the same reason. By the same token, Low Voltage Electrical certs don't allow fiddling with mains breakers and regular Electrician's Licensing doesn't allow running network wire - that's because there are different considerations, different construction (and modification of structure) codes, and just on and on and on. So my question is whether Chicago really harassed this small business just out of spite, or whether they actually didn't go spend 20 minutes and a few bucks to be legit in the first place.

This is so easy to figure out. She didn't donate to any "political campaigns", or the wrong ones.

I been trying to do same thing for home services like cleaning, painting, mowing, fence building etc for 20 years. Wasn't city that shut me down. All the business owners stealing tools and trying to scam their customers or business owners not showing up to scheduled jobs and then the business owners do shit work and won't finish and their customer don't pay them so they pull a gun on me or call cops on me or labor board on me wanting payment when I'm just their office manager that schedules what they tell me and bills credit cards when job done. I tell these owners and cops I can't bill the customers cause customer say job not done. And I want my commission for finding and scheduling the job. Cops threatening to arrest me if I don't pay them. I didn't hire them. They hired me and I got a contract. But I still got falsely arrested once. Charges dropped. They arrested me a second time. Had me in cuffs but then decided it's a civil matter and let me go.

That strip is full of bars and restaurants as well as distiller's. She was forced out because there was a bigger plan. Her business was a money maker. Visit the area and you will know that she wouldn't have survived anyway. The City did her a favor.

Someone realized they weren't getting all that fee money they thought the city deserved. It's hard to start a business legally with all of the financial hoops you have to go through.

As you read the comments, can you notice them all having the same voice. Grammar good. Spelling good. Punctuation good. What's missing is the uniqueness of an individual voice. Strange.

This is why I moved away from Chicago, it was impossible to have a small business there. Cottage industry laws are more practical in literally every other city except Chicago.

LOL! CHICAGO is a cesspool of public employees with NO PRODUCTIVITY!

OMFG DUDE I CALLED THESE GUYS TO GET DETAILS ABOUT A COOKING SLOT THAT I NEEDED, JUST LAST YEAR......LIKE NOV 2018......NEVER SAW THIS VIDEO TILL TODAY THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD BUSINESS.........I HAVE NEVER QUITE SEEN A CONCEPT OF BUSINESS LIKE THIS BEFORE

this happened to two clients of mine who opened a small restaurant & start up cost put them out of business in less than a year, only it was the health department, working against the start up, nit picking every rule & regulation.

all she had to do was make a "contribution" the right people and the inspectors and problems would disappear, after that is how Chicago and places like it work.

Illinois has the most people emigrating of any state in the United States...they have just passed a gas tax higher than any state in the country....they are more in debt than Detroit was at its peak, Chicago has sold all of its paid parking to a private company...I lived in the northern suburbs of Winnetka, my home was 1.8 million dollars, and my property taxes were nearly $60k dollars for almost an acre. I sold my home in 2014 and purchased a home on lake Geneva for 1.5 million, bigger, newer and on the lake. I pay half of what I did in taxes for more home and better land...cheaper gas, cheaper groceries...Wisconsin is taking in many of Illinois emigrants and driving up housing prices, opening more businesses. They just got a contract with the largest Chinese electronics manufacturer, bringing in tens of thousands of jobs, paying $50k and up...they have an amazon distribution warehouse a few towns over....Illinois is not friendly to businesses, real estate, nothing...leave the state people.

People argue with me when I say that Chicago is hostile to business. The population keeps shrinking as businesses close - especially heavy industry. But the suburbs are seeing huge growth in business and industry and population (and tax revenue). Despite this, Chicago keeps frustrating and regulating businesses out of business. They know nothing else.

The problem is that she can’t have all of these separate entrepreneurs working under her license (since they’re not her employees and would be required to be individually incorporated as a separate businesses with the State. In addition, they each require their own separate licenses and Municipal approvals: (food, occupational, health, planning/Zoning, and code approval) per each entrepreneur! This isn’t the City’s fault, she failed to under how the City of Chicago licenses businesses.

02:26 "... given instruction ...". Are we still in kindergarten or school? LOL.

Watching an episode tonight of The Profit: Inside Look and Marcus Lemonis owns a building in Highland Park that he wanted to turn into a bagel commissary that would employ workers and help establish bagel businesses throughout the area. Bureaucrats shut him down. Even though they had 40% vacancy rate... What the fuck...

This isn’t just about Chicago. Every major jurisdiction is going to take issue with this sorta business. It’s not the City Hall. I’m sure competitive restaurants and banquet halls were the ones complaining.

This video needs to be updated. Logan Square Kitchen has a beautiful modern website and seems to be thriving. She’s not on Milwaukee Ave anymore but the business model appears to be the same.

During WWII all scripts for shows (theater; no TV/Netflix at that time) had to be approved by Germans occupiers. Some actress didn’t like that; so they would start cafes. People would go there and pay a bit more than in normal cafe to get served by famous actress and show protest against Germans. Zina Murray had to wait 15 months for Chicago license; openly anit-German actress had to wait 2 days for all permits from occupiers.

Never forget that a wage slave is still a slave. Don't try to go 'off grid' as you'll be classed as a thief for not buying from or working for the big boys of commerce.

It's terrible that a "world class" city like Chicago is so backwards on how to handle innovative businesses. I understand her frustration in dealing with the city. While I just owned a forty-eight apartment building I dealt with bureaucratic inconsistencies all the time. The worst was getting cited for conditions that had been permitted and successfully inspected previously. Nothing like having to go to court repeatedly to present and explain that the wrong code was used in the citation and show proof that it had passed before. Time, money wasted because the inspectors didn't know the peculiarities and specific variations in how the code was to be applied to conditions. Then there is the time it took nine months to get a building permit to remodel aspects of my building. That nine month wait almost killed the project. I could go on but won't...glad I sold two years ago. As a small business owner, I would never invest in Chicago or Illinois.

Frankly, she went about this all wrong, and THAT was what led to the downfall of this wonderful, creative, and helpful business that could have helped many people incubate dozens or even hundreds of new small businesses. Hopefully this advice will hit home with a reader here and help them to do it right. STEP 1: Find an attorney who has a very successful reputation as a winner in the related areas of food, health, and licensing. STEP 2: Bring said attorney with you to a monthly City Council meeting, and when they call for speakers bring up what you want to do and ask for their advice on making it all smooth sailing. STEP 3: If any City Council members have questions, let your attorney answer them, always. STEP 4: do exactly what your attorney tells you to do, based on what he or she gleaned from the City Council meeting -- which would have been video and audio recorded by the City Council itself, by the way. This way you put the entire City Council's feet to the flames because they are being recorded and they don't want to appear to be obstructionist at best or anti-business at worst, and will say everything they can to encourage you and warn of possible pitfalls; this is all on video, too, as proof of what you were instructed to do by the Powers That Be. You have your attorney there to help you prepare and to hear everything said on all sides so he or she can best advise you. You have your attorney answer questions FOR YOU so you don't screw up something seemingly innocuous and make a bad impression. And finally, you have your attorney, who is experienced with these operations, handle every detail of getting your business up and running in terms of general business paperwork, zoning, licensing, permits, and making sure the health inspectors are sufficiently paid off to not humble you as soon as you open. THAT'S how you start a business like this.

So because a beaurocrat can't find the correct box to tick they shut down a new business. Result, the city doesn't get tax from the business, the inovative people move out, the employees and innovators don't have a job so no taxes paid, instead the city probably has to pay them benefits, after all what's the point in trying to better yourself?

So the lesson is : "never try".

local government have to change their approach licencing business start ups and stop jerking the hand who feeds it

What they really wanted is that every separate entity working within the kitchen should have been licensed and have a food preparation certificate. The license fees of the 15 different people was what they were after.

Born and raised here. I love this city but the corruption and weird rules regarding food trucks and restaurants is absurd.

Innovation and things that are new SHOULD be treated with extreme caution. That is something which history has taught us time and time again. This doesn’t mean that businesses should be squashed, but expecting smooth sailing when you’re trying something completely new is naive.

Same thing with Florida. If you want to work you can’t just start a business and share with everyone. You have to get a license and can only do the work that license allows you to. They say it’s for “quality control” but it’s all bs. It’s all about the fines, application fees, and renewal fees. They do nothing except take YOUR tax dollars and use them against you so they can take more of your money. So corrupt. Business tax stamp, insurance, and health inspections should be the only thing you need.

This is a business that should be restarted by "We the people!"

Its insane that anyone can hinder a company from growing aslong as they follow every law in regards to that company

While necessity is the mother of invention, bureaucracy is the mortician.

It seems the city should be able to adapt to innovation. Its an evolving economy and there should be a user friendly process that factors in new concepts. Or the city can stagnate and decline.

This is why Chicago is losing citizens. Illinois as a whole is crooked from top to bottom and people are finally saying "enough already" and leaving for tax friendly and business friendly states. I, for one, would love to make the move out of here as soon as possible but my business has a few more years of viability. After that...Gone!

Grew up there all my life. I am so glad I left that City and State. Good riddance

What a great idea! How sad bureaucrats spoiled this business.

This racket, would put Alcapone to shame.

In 1945, corporations paid 50% of federal taxes; now they pay about 5%. Number Two: In 1900, 90% of Americans were self employed; now it's about 2%... It's called consolidation; strengthen governments and corporations, weaken individuals. With taxes, this can be done imperceptibly over time." - Leo Gold

Wouldn't pay for protection from the bureaucracy.

The Government licensing racket must be abolished! End government licensing!

and that is why I left.

In America you are free to do whatever you want unless you want to do something the rulers don't want you to do.

I dont know I mean I dont doubt that theres corruption here in Chicago but the bunch of business that I have personally seen and worked at never had any real issues with permits or city inspections maybe we where lucky what I do know is that none of them payed any alderman or spoke with any special person to open their business. I have worked at restaurants and currently small repair/ retail shops. The worst thing was improper lighting ticket 5 years ago for a strobe light..... after that never had an issue again.

quite the story all her business really needed was licenses to hold healthy and safe environment for making food and that the bakers have licenses to make food nothing else is required but the city made it difficult

I think it's more likely Zina wasn't in a position to offer the city official big enough bribes to get things done.

Wow this place looks super clean

As an entrepreneur myself, this is a scary reality. Are there any updated on her situation?

That makes no sense about needing a license for cooking? And if that the case then why I heard McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, or some other restaurants never required a worker with a cooking license. So why does this place need a license for cooking when other places don't need them?

Damn. So sorry Zina.