Misericordia Means Business 
by Linda Buchalo
Did you know that Misericordia operates several businesses under the leadership of Steve Achilles, Vice President of Business Operations? Many are long-standing fixtures on campus, while others—like the new composting venture—reflect how the organization is thoughtfully growing its mission through innovation.
Each enterprise expresses the Misericordia mission in action, combining meaningful resident employment with efforts to strengthen Misericordia’s visibility and financial stability.
Misericordia businesses must meet the following qualifications:
- Generate significant revenue to support the organization
- Provide meaningful employment opportunities for residents
- Serve as ambassadors for the Misericordia brand, connecting our mission with the wider community
The combined businesses provide employment for 70+ residents. Employees can learn new skills in a carefully curated and collaborative setting; many of these opportunities are a springboard for future community employment opportunities.
The following sections summarize each distinct business or subset of a Misericordia business.
Hearts & Flour Bakery
The bakery, a long-standing campus fixture, recently expanded and renovated its space on the second floor of the main building and is one of the largest employers of Misericordia residents. The bakery is especially busy during the holidays—a favorite time to volunteer.
Residents gain experience in baking, packaging, and labeling products sold to retail, corporate, and internal customers. Known for its beloved heart-shaped brownie, the bakery also produces cookies, tea breads, Irish soda bread, and various desserts available at the Greenhouse Inn Restaurant, the Hearts and Flour Bakery & Café, the Glenview Sweet Shoppe, farmers markets, and online.
Hearts and Flour Bakery & Café
An outgrowth of the original Hearts & Flour Bakery, this business is located around the corner from the main campus on Ravenswood. The café is a vibrant space for community connection and serves Metra riders who might pick up a coffee or freshly baked pastry. The café also serves luncheon fare and is a popular space within the neighborhood.
Residents get a taste of both “front” and “back of house” experience. The café serves as a drive-through but also has seating. Residents and staff serve up freshly made soup, sandwiches, doughnuts, pastries, and coffee.
Recently, the Hearts and Flour Bakery and Café teamed up to secure a new commercial customer, Love From USA, featuring baked goods from a kiosk in Terminal 5 at O’Hare.
Sweets on Wheels
The Misericordia food truck is a mobile extension of the bakery and café operations, serving Chicago and the suburbs. Sweets on Wheels delivers coffee and sweet treats to various community events. This business is an opportunity for Misericordia to expand its reach into local neighborhoods and promote resident inclusion through public engagement.
The truck is available for rent for special occasions—think weddings, birthdays, block parties, and more. Several years ago, the truck was engaged by the AON Center to offer its wares to AON employees. The result was a sellout!
Sweet Shoppe
The Sweet Shoppe is in Glenview. This retail location features baked goods, gift items, and resident-created items. Customers can grab a pre-made salad or sandwich. The Sweet Shoppe provides additional opportunities for residents to work directly with customers and spreads the Misericordia mission into the community through involvement in various community events.
The shop is a popular fixture in the neighborhood. In fact, the nearby Oil Lamp Theater regularly purchases the chocolate chip cookies to distribute to their patrons.
Greenhouse Inn Restaurant
One of Misericordia’s original businesses, the Greenhouse Inn (GHI) serves lunch Tuesday through Friday and brunch on Sunday. The refreshed space remains a neighborhood favorite and is slated for future expansion.
Three staff members, together with residents and volunteers, prepare and serve a daily luncheon special, salad bar, and other menu favorites. GHI is among Misericordia’s top resident employers, offering real-world hospitality training and fostering teamwork and customer service skills.
Heartstrings Gift Shop
The Heartstrings Gift Shop is accessible from within GHI and makes for a fun visit following a delicious meal. The shop offers seasonal merchandise, handcrafted goods, Misericordia-branded clothing, and resident artistry. Favorite pieces from The Artist in All are re-imagined as note cards, candles, memo pads, dishes, purses, mugs, and water bottles. This is a great place to shop for that special someone.
The shop has recently gone through a makeover, featuring all new merchandise. The new look is bright and cheery and showcases the wide variety of offerings. The gift shop provides retail packaging and merchandising roles for residents.
Heart & Soil Composting
The composting program is the newest Misericordia business venture, launched on July 1, 2025. This urban composting initiative blends sustainability with employment opportunities. The composting area is located on the east side of the campus and promotes an eco-friendly environment while reducing campus waste. Compostable items are collected across campus and from local households who subscribe to the service.
Farmers Markets
The farmers markets are a seasonal business managed by the bakery and café. Current markets include Daley Plaza in Chicago, and local markets in Evanston and Tinley Park. New locations are coming in 2026.
The number of employees, resident employees, and volunteers varies based on demand. The Misericordia booth sells bakery goods and recently began selling gift items. In January, the team will begin attending select winter markets. The markets provide opportunities for residents to engage directly with the public and showcase the mission of Misericordia in community settings throughout the city and suburbs.
The combined businesses generated $3,734,268 for FY 2025—a 6% increase over FY 2024. And current figures are on track to surpass this number in FY 2026. Goals for the coming year include adding new farmers markets, hosting pop-ups and community engagement events, building awareness, growing revenue, and identifying new opportunities that align with the Misericordia mission.
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