LaForce J. Baker, former Vice President of Community Impact at World Business Chicago (WBC) and Chicago’s “Retail Expert,” has launched Baker Enterprises Retail, LLC—a firm dedicated to driving retail expansion and development in underserved communities.
To address retail challenges in Chicago and beyond, LaForce J. Baker founded Baker Enterprises Retail, LLC, a Retail Growth Advisory Firm focused on providing strategic guidance for national retailers. The firm offers services such as real estate site selection advisory, emerging markets feasibility analysis, community engagement, developer incentive support, project-specific government relations, and site-specific project management, ensuring faster and more efficient retail location openings.
Baker Enterprises Retail’s mission is to reshape Chicago’s retail landscape by bringing high-quality retail options to underserved communities. With plans to expand operations to other major cities, the firm aims to close the gap between market demands and retail development.
During his tenure at WBC, Baker mobilized $1.4 billion in mixed-use commercial real estate development, including attracting Culver’s Restaurant to Austin/Humboldt Park, Starbucks to West Lawn, and Save-A-Lot to Garfield Park. His efforts also led to bringing Chick-fil-A and Northwestern Memorial Hospital to underserved areas, contributing to significant economic growth on Chicago’s South and West sides.
Looking ahead, Baker Enterprises Retail is poised to make an even greater impact. Beginning February 2025, the firm will partner with the Save-A-Lot grocery chain to enhance the brand’s presence and community engagement in Chicagoland. "Working with LaForce and his team has been instrumental in getting incentives and community support to make our multi-site grocery store enterprise more competitive and get operational faster," said the head of the Save-A-Lot Stores chain in Chicago.
The firm’s holistic approach to retail development includes facilitating community engagement to ensure projects align with local needs. By addressing retail deserts and accelerating store openings, Baker Enterprises Retail is not only improving access to essential goods and services but also creating jobs and fostering economic revitalization.
The challenges of retail development in underserved areas extend beyond financial hurdles. Community engagement and securing government incentives are critical to ensuring the long-term success of retail projects. Baker Enterprises Retail specializes in bridging these gaps, providing tailored solutions to retailers and developers.
LaForce Baker’s leadership and innovative approach have already garnered significant attention in the industry. His work has been recognized as a model for revitalizing retail in urban markets. With Baker Enterprises Retail, he is set to continue driving positive change in Chicago and beyond.
About Baker Enterprises Retail:
Baker Enterprises Retail is a Retail Growth Advisory Firm that specializes in retail expansion, real estate site selection advisory, feasibility analysis, community engagement, and project management. The firm works with national retailers, developers, and community leaders to accelerate retail development and enhance market access in underserved areas.
About LaForce J. Baker:
LaForce J. Baker is the Founder and Principal of Baker Enterprises Retail, LLC, and a recognized retail expert with years of experience in urban retail development. As the former Vice President of Community Impact at World Business Chicago, he led efforts to bring $1.4 billion dollars in mixed-use commercial real estate development to Chicago’s South and West sides. Baker brings invaluable insights to his work, having previously founded and led Moon Meals, one of the top selling minority-owned plant based consumer packaged goods brands in national grocery retailers like Whole Foods Market (Amazon), Kroger (Marianos) and Albertsons (Jewel Osco) for almost a decade. Prior to founding Moon Meals, he helped bring to market new concepts & reposition established billion dollar brand portfolios for multinational companies like Kraft-Heinz, Conagra and Nestle in various national big box retailers.Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Baker’s deep connection to the community fuels his passion for creating opportunities for all.
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Source: Story.KISSPR.com
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