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Mariah Rush

@mariahrush21.bsky.social
786 followers 53 following 32 posts

retail reporter for @chicago.suntimes.com | mrush@suntimes.com

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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
hello chicago-area parents + teachers, @chicago.suntimes.com reporter here!! If you've been school supplies shopping recently (online or in person) I'd love to hear from you. bonus points if you know how much $$ you spent!! message me here or email me at mrush@suntimes.com :)
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Looking for coffee at the Obama Presidential Center? The '44 Reserve' blend has 40-year Chicago legacy chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine... by @mariahrush.bsky.social
chicago.suntimes.com
Looking for coffee at the Obama Presidential Center? The '44 Reserve' blend has 40-year Chicago legacy
Lower West Side company Color Me Coffee was chosen as the sole coffee supplier for the newly opened Obama Presidential Center.
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Man, we had QUESTIONS about the magnitude of this particular executive's death. He was a key liaison between the grocery company and the city.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Since 2022, I’ve been covering Save A Lot/Yellow Banana, starting w its first announcement as the city’s answer to help food deserts on Chicago’s West and South sides. @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social + I (kind of annoyingly) chronicled the company’s legal problems, debt and broken promises diligently.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Baggu plans to open its second store in Chicago, this time in Lincoln Park: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
chicago.suntimes.com
Cult brand Baggu to open second Chicago store in Lincoln Park
The popular bag and accessories company opened its first Midwest store in Chicago two years ago, which drew hundreds of shoppers on its opening day.
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 08/04/2026
Baggu, the California-based bag and accessories brand, plans to expand its Chicago footprint with a second store in Lincoln Park. The company opened its first Midwest store in Chicago two years ago, which drew hundreds of shoppers on its opening day.
chicago.suntimes.com
Cult brand Baggu to open second Chicago store in Lincoln Park
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Hellloooo I’m reporting from Jesse Jackson Jr.’s election night party for @chicago.suntimes.com, where he hopes to return to the 2nd Congressional District after a stint in prison. Notably, it’s been exactly 1 month since his civil rights activist dad Rev. Jesse Jackson died. follow along⬇️
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 03/02/2026
Eleven photo booths — six vintage-inspired digital and five vintage analog — are in the 2,000 square-foot space, the former home of Bellows Film Lab. Starting Feb. 6, people and pets alike are welcomed into the The Strip Club Photobooth Studio to pay $7 for a turn in a photobooth.
chicago.suntimes.com
Vintage photobooth studio opens in Wicker Park for 'analog' fans
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Ari Soglin @arisoglin.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
When I go to Wicker Park, I feel a bit "vintage," too. Here's another return-to-analog story from @mariahrush.bsky.social.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
never thought i’d be able to publish the phrase “celebratory cheese” but here we are !! chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...
chicago.suntimes.com
Bears fans come together with the help of cheese graters, both real and fake
Bears fans could be seen shredding some cheese and wearing foam grater hats to celebrate the team's victory over the Packers.
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 31/12/2025
The nonprofit owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ paid its outgoing CEO more than $900,000 in 2024, new tax filings show, as it engaged in staff cuts and other measures to deal with declining revenue.
chicago.suntimes.com
Ex-CEO of Chicago Public Media saw $900,000 payout in 2024, IRS filings show
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
This isn't theoretical: several Chicago stores told me they can't get pennies from banks anymore, even if they want them. That's why you're seeing "exact change only" signs and new rounding rules pop up. Business owners have yet to receive clear guidance from the gov on how to handle this.
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Here's where to read the whole story by @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social and me, gorgeous photos by Anthony Vazquez and Candace Dane Chambers: chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
chicago.suntimes.com
Greg Bovino’s the star of Trump’s deportation show. We trace his roots.
As a boy, the Hollywood movie “The Border" set the course for his life. He couldn’t believe the Border Patrol agents in the movie were the bad guys. Now that he’s in charge of deportation efforts caus...
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
The U.S. has stopped making pennies — and Chicago businesses are already dealing with coin shortages, exact-change signs and rounding rules. I reported on how stopping production of the "cultural icon" is playing out across the city👇 chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/1...
chicago.suntimes.com
End of penny production has Chicago businesses facing coin shortage
Some experts say the death of the copper coin isn’t that big of a deal, but the recent end of penny production has led businesses to change their payment policy.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Curtis Berry didn't want to give up his dog, Seven. But Seven had a severe ear infection that would cost $1K to treat, and Berry couldn't afford the bill. chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
chicago.suntimes.com
Pet owner surrender rates are up, overwhelming Chicago shelters
More people have been giving up their dogs and cats, citing a tough economy and housing restrictions. The surge is putting a strain on pet shelters and rescue centers.
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@SZReports @szreports.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Sad sign of the times: More pet owners are giving up their dogs and cats because they can’t afford their care or high pet fees from their landlord. Great reporting by @mariahrush.bsky.social Reminder: Still no paywall at the nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times! chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
chicago.suntimes.com
Pet owner surrender rates are up, overwhelming Chicago shelters
More people have been giving up their dogs and cats, citing a tough economy and housing restrictions. The surge is putting a strain on pet shelters and rescue centers.
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 30/05/2025
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023. He's determined to create apartments while maintaining the Gothic and art deco architecture.
buff.ly
Chicago landmark Pittsfield Building went viral on TikTok. Meet the guy who made it happen.
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has racked up millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Once the tallest skyscraper in Chicago, the Pittsfield Building has drawn in millions of views on social media. “Tom the Skyscraper Guy” tells us how and why he’s turned the building into viral content: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
chicago.suntimes.com
Chicago landmark Pittsfield Building went viral on TikTok. Meet the guy who made it happen.
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has racked up millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Bucktown's newest exclusive social club includes a co-working lounge with craft brews on tap, a hair and nail salon + outdoor patios with a firepit. But its main focus is on dogs. More about Pup Social, for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
chicago.suntimes.com
Members-only club for dog owners opening in Bucktown
Founder Aly Udartseva created Pup Social because she wanted a place offering amenities to dogs and their owners from an off-leash supervised dog park to a nail and hair salon for their owners.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Western apparel shops around Chicago have seen a boost in sales since the BeyHive came to town. "God bless Beyoncé," said Alcala's co-owner: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
chicago.suntimes.com
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala's Western Wear
The singer was in town performing at Soldier Field as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, and it meant concertgoers were looking to don their best western gear.
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 20/05/2025
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts at Soldier Field fueled a sales frenzy by her fans at Alcala's Western Wear, doubling their usual best weekend revenue.
buff.ly
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala's Western Wear
The singer was in town performing at Soldier Field as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, and it meant concertgoers were looking to don their best western gear.
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits. Contractors — including a Latina-owned painting company in Chicago — have filed liens to get paid. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
chicago.suntimes.com
Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits
While residents in neighborhoods like West Lawn waited years for the promised stores, the owners of Yellow Banana were racking up business and personal problems.
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@SZReports @szreports.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Our series on several odd, shocking, unprovoked attacks in downtown Chicago has finally posted in full on this landing page: (Note: the Chicago Sun-Times has no paywall.) (1/9) chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
chicago.suntimes.com
How the failures of a mental health system can have deadly consequences
An investigation into how the failures of a mental health system can have deadly consequences.
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
#ICYMI: Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts//Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support. chicago.suntimes.com/education/20...
chicago.suntimes.com
Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts
Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
“People who wore the uniform shouldn’t be living in shelters and shouldn’t be living on the street,” said Doyle, founder of Veteran Roasters, which employs only homeless, at-risk veterans. chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/04...
chicago.suntimes.com
Coffee roastery and cafe staffed by military vets has big plans for South Side expansion
Veteran Roasters, a nonprofit with cafes in the Loop and at O'Hare, is getting ready to open a 16,000 square-foot brewpub and cafe in Pullman.
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 16/03/2025
Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children’s Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?”
buff.ly
Museum founder Peggy Montes established Women's History Month in Chicago — and still is a 'lady in motion'
Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children's Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?"
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Happy Women's History Month! Peggy Montes, now 88, helped elect our first Black mayor Harold Washington, and led the charge to celebrate Women's History Month for the first time in Chicago. For @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...
chicago.suntimes.com
Peggy Montes helped establish Chicago's Women's History Month — and still is a 'lady in motion'
Peggy Montes started the Bronzeville Children's Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and seeks to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?"
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Chicago Sun-Times Guild @cstguild.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
We’re the Chicago Sun-Times Guild, a union that’s been around for decades to protect the future of the Sun-Times newsroom and our dozens of members who have kept it running. We’ve already seen many colleagues head out the door in the past few weeks. And we’re worried that more could soon follow.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
my dog turned a very bratty 14, so we made her a cake and had grand ol time.
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
very belatedly, here goes an intro post: I'm a @chicago.suntimes.com reporter writing about the South and West sides on our race, class and communities team! My author page currently reflects an obsession with business + some healthcare but I write a lil bit of everything, so pls email me any tips!
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her // Seems the partnerships w local businesses that Yellow Banana promised didn't pan out so well, not for I Love My Coffee Black @mariahrush.bsky.social and I report chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
chicago.suntimes.com
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her
Yellow Banana, which got a $20 million city contract to renovate grocery stores on the South and West sides, also promised it would partner with several community-based and Black-owned businesses, inc...
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
another one w/@bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: 'She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her' chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
chicago.suntimes.com
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her
Yellow Banana, which got a $20 million city contract to renovate grocery stores on the South and West sides, also promised it would partner with several community-based and Black-owned businesses, inc...
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 26/02/2025
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which closes on Wednesday, is one of five closings in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 over three years. trib.al/PNwvowg
trib.al
Walgreens set to close in Bronzeville: 'It's gonna hurt'
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which shuts Wednesday, joins five total closing in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 stores over...
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
A Walgreens in Bronzeville closes today, leaving residents — many of them seniors — w/out a nearby pharmacy chain: chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
chicago.suntimes.com
Walgreens set to close in Bronzeville: 'It's gonna hurt'
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which shuts Wednesday, joins five total closing in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 stores over...
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
“The 2020 surge felt like guilt-shopping after George Floyd. Real support means consistency — not just buying Black when it’s trending,” said Courtney Woods, co-owner of Da Book Joint in South Shore. chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...
chicago.suntimes.com
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
Black bookstores saw a spike in interest after 2020's social justice movement. But that support has waned, they say, and with the economic downturn since the pandemic and competition from online retai...
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Lauren FitzPatrick @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle now after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend' chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0... by @mariahrush.bsky.social
chicago.suntimes.com
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
Black bookstores saw a spike in interest after 2020's social justice movement. But that support has waned, they say, and with the economic downturn since the pandemic and competition from online retai...
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Mariah Rush @mariahrush21.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
NEW today w/ @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: Save A Lot owner struggles with city expectations, owing $1.7M to contractors and $47K in fines/bills. The new West Garfield Park store has been cited several times for overflowing dumpsters and rodent issues.
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