National Small Business Week 2025: Milwaukee Avenue Corridor in Chicago raises concerns over tariffs to Durbin, Ramirez
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — Some local businesses were raising concerns Friday about the impact of tariffs on their operating costs.

This is National Small Business Week.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Some Illinois Democrats are doing their best to keep up the pressure on the Trump Administration, hoping to bring about change.

The spotlight was on the Milwaukee Avenue Corridor, an area bustling with numerous small businesses. Many of these businesses are feeling the pressure from tariffs and are hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon.

At the family-run Magnifico Coffee in Avondale, they are all about a great cup of joe.

“Coffee is part of my heritage. I’m Colombian. So, we grew up drinking coffee,” Magnifico Coffee co-owner Angelica Acebedo-Frint said.

The tariff on specialty beans imported from South America is causing significant challenges for these businesses, as it results in a roughly 10 percent increase in their expenses.

“We’re tightening our budget a bit, but we’re trying to delay passing any extra costs onto our customers as long as possible. We understand that coffee, for some, is a necessity, and we want to avoid making it too pricey,” Acebedo-Frint explained.

“Coffee is great, the doughnuts are even better,” Sen. Dick Durbin said.

After their coffee shop stop, Durbin, Congresswoman Deliah Ramirez and others took a walk down Milwaukee Avenue, visiting several other small businesses, to learn about the impact of tariffs.

“The tariffs certainly scare us,” said Alan Yuen, who owns Friendship Chinese.

Yuen’s restaurant was founded by his father decades ago.

The tariff war with China is hitting home, with prices for various sauces and food skyrocketing.

“We are afraid that, in the very near future, the price is going to be more than double. And how are we going to survive?” Yuen said.

Democrats in Congress say they will continue to push back.

“And I think the pressure, the conversations, the town halls are working,” said Ramirez, a Democrat representing Chicago and the west suburbs.

“People understand this is a change that can be loss of jobs in the beginning of recession. So, I think that backlash is leading to some Republicans thinking twice about just blindly following the MAGA line,” Durbin said.

While Democrats do what little they can to influence things in Washington, business owners watch the economic swings, hoping for stability, so they can focus on what they do best: serving their customers.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Vance warns Hamas as Gaza peace plan's Civilian Military Cooperation Center opens

US Diplomat Vance Issues Strong Warning to Hamas Amid Launch of Gaza’s New Peace Initiative Center

Vice President JD Vance delivered a stern message to Hamas on Tuesday…
Illegal immigrants arrested after woman found shot to death in Texas woods, 1 wanted by Mexican feds: police

Texas Authorities Apprehend Suspected Illegal Immigrants in Connection with Fatal Shooting; One Suspect Sought by Mexican Authorities

Authorities have apprehended two Mexican nationals in Texas, linking them to the…
Illinois Rep. Hoan Huynh says Customs and Border Patrol agent pulled gun on him near Montrose, Kimball in Albany Park, Chicago

Illinois Rep. Hoan Huynh Alleges Gun Incident with Border Patrol Agent in Chicago’s Albany Park

CHICAGO (WLS) — An Illinois state representative, who is also a candidate…
Attempted murder suspect with four prior cases walks free on $9.5K bond after brutal trail attack

Suspect in Attempted Murder, with Four Prior Charges, Released on $9.5K Bond Following Violent Trail Assault

Florida trail attack suspect escorted to sheriff’s cruiser Jacoby Tillman, a 23-year-old…
Protests erupt as ICE agents raid NYC Chinatown street vendors allegedly selling counterfeit goods

ICE Agents Conduct Raids on NYC Chinatown Vendors Amid Counterfeit Goods Allegations, Sparking Protests

In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, a federal operation in…
Man arrested, accused of trying to smuggle drugs into Ware County Jail

Attempted Drug Smuggling Foiled at Ware County Jail: Suspect in Custody

In a bold and unusual attempt to smuggle drugs into a correctional…
Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky is remembered as a leader in the game's online surge

Chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky Celebrated as a Pioneer in the Online Chess Renaissance

Daniel Naroditsky, a prominent figure in competitive chess who rose to fame…
Bernie-Endorsed Maine Senate Candidate's Campaign Implodes As Dems in Disarray Hits Fever Pitch

Maine Senate Race Turmoil: Bernie-Backed Candidate Faces Campaign Collapse Amid Democratic Discord

Though the Maine primary is still months away, slated for June 9,…
US Marshal, illegal alien shot in Los Angeles immigration operation

US Marshal and Undocumented Immigrant Injured During Los Angeles Immigration Enforcement Operation

In Los Angeles on Tuesday, a U.S. Marshal and an undocumented immigrant…
Pardoned Jan 6 rioter accused of threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries after Trump clemency

Pardoned Capitol Rioter Faces New Allegations of Threatening Hakeem Jeffries Post-Trump Clemency

A man previously pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his involvement…
Hamas transfers coffin of dead hostage to Israel, IDF confirms

Hamas Returns Deceased Hostage’s Coffin to Israel, Confirms IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that a coffin containing…
Immigration agents conducting sweep on NYC's famed Canal Street confronted by protesters

Immigration Agents Met with Protests During Canal Street Operation in NYC

NEW YORK (AP) — A planned immigration enforcement operation on Manhattan’s well-known…