Cindy Rudman
NoteworthyNotes
3629 North Halsted Street
Have long have owned NoteworthyNotes?
I have owned NoteworthyNotes since November of 2000. I’ve been on North Halsted since the beginning of 2010. Before I opened my business here, I worked from home, and then opened an office on Kingsbury and was in that space until I moved to Boystown.
What made you decide to open your business in Boystown?
I felt there was a need for my type of business at the time, which was more invitation oriented. I do a lot of invitations for Weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and the proximity to the Anshe Emet Synagogue and the Temple Sholom, and I wanted to put myself on the “Mom’s Route”. If they had to drop their child off at their tutoring for their Bar/bat Mitzvah, they could easily come in and order their invitation. My business was expanding, and it seemed like a great location!
Why did you decided to get into your type of business?
I’ve always had a soft spot for paper! When I was little, I received my first piece of personalized stationery and fell in love. When I went to sleep-away camp I would never use the last piece from each set, I kept it for my collection. About ten years ago, my mother gave my niece my treasured box of paper, and she started writing me letters from camp on my old stationery.
How long have you been a member of the Northalsted Business Alliance?
I joined the NBA immediately in 2010.
How long have you been an SSA Commissioner?
I have been a Commissioner for three years. I enjoy being able to assist improvements in the community as a whole and not just the business aspect. I like working with Randy Shingledecker of RS Design Studio to work with local businesses regarding façade improvement.
Where do you see the future of the neighborhood?
I would like to see more retail come in and to make the street more of a shopping destination. Even though everyone is welcome in our neighborhood, I think there is some misinformation that you have to be LGBTQ in order to shop in this community which isn’t the case. I think it is important for people to realize that shopping local isn’t just important for food and drinks, but for retail as well.
How do you exude pride every day?
I run a business where everyone is welcome. We get a lot of visitors, and I know that is partly because we are in Boystown in addition to being close to Wrigley Field. I want every person that walks through the doors to leave feeling like they had a positive experience, I take pride in that. If you are getting married, we are happy for you and enjoy being part of setting the tone for your wedding day with an invitation that reflects your day and personal style.
Will you tell the readers about your family?
I’ve have been married for 18 years! I have two kids, a daughter who is 15 and a son who is 12. Our new puppy, Sammy, is now our store dog, and greets everyone but her favorite daily visitor is Jose, our UPS driver (he brings her treats). We live in Lincoln Park, but a lot of our life is in Lakeview, from school to my business. I am originally from Montreal, came here for business school, and never left.
Do you enjoy being part of the Soup Walk (part of our annual Frost Fest)?
I think it’s a great idea, giving people an opportunity to get outside in the winter. This year, thankfully, the weather was amazing. The year prior was chilly, but we still saw a lot of new faces. It is a really fun day for us to be part of an event that is geared for everyone, including families.
What is something people don’t know about you?
I’m the daughter of the Hot Dog King of Montreal! Even there we don’t put ketchup on our hot dogs.
