She Kept Her Mother’s Dream Alive. Now The Holly House Is Opening Its Next Chapter
Three months after Samantha Frontera opened The Holly House with her mother, Becky, everything changed.
Becky had to step away from the business because of serious health issues. When she left Illinois for medical care, Frontera suddenly found herself running the young business alone while balancing the public relations agency she had spent nearly a decade building.
She could have closed the doors. Instead, she chose to keep building the dream she and her mother had started.
Two years later, The Holly House has grown from a small artisan shop into a community-centered marketplace with locations in Orland Park and Chicago’s Lincoln Park, supporting nearly 30 local artisans and offering workshops, permanent jewelry and creative experiences designed to bring people together.
The Holly House just celebrated the grand opening of the new Orland Park location at 8104 W. 143rd St. on July 18. A celebration that included food, drinks, raffles and an opportunity for visitors to meet many of the local artisans whose work fills the shop.
Even more meaningful, Becky recently returned home after spending a year and a half in Texas receiving that medical care and was able to take part in the celebration.
“I’m just so happy she gets to see people in the shop again,” Frontera said. “For so long, everything we were doing was in her honor while she was away. Now she gets to be part of it.”
The Holly House first opened as a way to give Becky a place to sell the handmade baby gifts she loved creating. As more artists reached out looking for somewhere to showcase their work, the concept naturally evolved into a shared marketplace where local makers could build their businesses together.
Today, roughly 80 to 90 percent of the products sold at The Holly House are handmade. Shoppers can browse everything from jewelry, artwork and home décor to soaps, baby gifts and leather goods while also signing up for classes that include perfume making, sugar scrub workshops, painting and other hands-on projects.
“The Holly House is really about bringing people together,” Frontera said. “It brings joy, creativity and a little bit of escapism. People can come in, make something, shop local and just enjoy themselves.”
That mission extends beyond customers, too.
Many of The Holly House’s vendors are retirees. People who had spent years creating beautiful handmade items without a consistent place to sell them. Others simply wanted a community of fellow artists who understood their passion.
“We’re giving people purpose,” Frontera said. “A lot of our vendors are 65 and older. They’re making beautiful things, and we’re helping them find a place to share them with the community.”
She recalled one vendor in her 80s who began selling crocheted baby booties and blankets through The Holly House after years of making them at home. Within her first month, the artisan had sold hundreds of dollars worth of handmade baby booties.
“We don’t want to lose those traditions,” Frontera said. “Our older generations have incredible skills, and we’re helping preserve those by connecting them with customers who appreciate handmade work.”
The business has continued evolving alongside its mission.
The new Orland Park location features a collaboration with Cisneros Leather Co. and Arrow Permanent Jewelry. Meanwhile, the Lincoln Park store offers its own unique mix of artisans and experiences. Frontera said each location reflects the personality of its surrounding community while staying true to The Holly House’s core purpose.
The shop is also launching a new six-week Crafting Membership beginning August 8 in Orland Park. It’ll give participants the opportunity to create handmade projects, meet new people and build community over six Saturday sessions. A second session will begin October 3 in Lincoln Park.
“I think a lot of people are looking for ways to connect with their community,” Frontera said. “You can come in, learn something new, make friends and leave with something you created yourself.”
Despite the challenges of opening and growing a retail business, Frontera said she has never stopped believing in the concept.
“I really believe this idea has something special,” she said. “It’s coming from such a good place. We want to help people. I believe if we keep doing that, everything else will follow.”
About the Southland Development Authority
The Southland Development Authority, a not-for-profit economic development organization, is committed to driving equitable and sustainable economic growth in the South Suburbs of Chicago. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and impactful direct investments, the SDA is building a vibrant, inclusive economy that drives wealth growth for individuals, businesses, and municipalities. Combined with the benefits of the South Suburban Land Bank and the Monarch Fund, the SDA serves as a model for regional development.
