Two Introverts Built a Wine Bar on the South Side with Charlette Stanton and Jacare Thomas of Park Manor 75

Ep 138: Two Introverts Built a Wine Bar on the South Side with Charlette Stanton and Jacare Thomas of Park Manor 75Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤Recorded live on Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM on August 21, 2026. No edits, no retakes.What happens when the people who've spent decades bringing everybody together finally create a place of their own?Charlette Stanton and Jacare Thomas met as teenagers and have been building community for more than two decades: social clubs, arts organizations, events, trips. Now that's a physical space. Park Manor 75 is a Black-owned wine and charcuterie bar on 75th Street, and they call it a third space, and they mean it.What We Talk AboutWhy they say the business plan is the thing you avoid because you're afraid of what it'll reveal, and why you should write it anywayHow they found the building on a whim, in pajamas, and closed on it within thirty daysWhat they wish they'd known in 2003, when an alderman told them no and they took no for an answerThe unexpected turn: SSAs, and why where you spend your money decides which neighborhoods get street cleaning, lights, and beautificationIf you love a conversation about what it actually takes to open a door, this episode is for you.All about Charlette Stanton and Jacare ThomasYou're gonna love these two. A husband-and-wife team of 23 years who are both, improbably, introverts. Charlette runs operations, Jacare runs strategy and community engagement, and their whole approach is asking people what they want to do and then figuring out how the space can serve it. The bar is two rooms: the Park is light and open, the Manor is a dark speakeasy in the back. As Charlette puts it, you can have your grandma in the front and your boo in the back.Things We MentionedPark Manor 75 → parkmanor75.com · @parkmanor75 on all socialsNoir Urban Arts Collective and See Black Social Club, their earlier venturesThe Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, the City of Chicago grant that helped fund the buildSSAs, or Special Service Areas, and why they matter for neighborhood developmentSensory Oasis with DJ Dave Mays, monthly on SundaysWhat to order: the Park Manor (lamb sausage and Italian beef with mild sauce), the Greek Town if you don't eat meat, the collard green dip, and the sweet potato hummusThe Inner Guide podcast, which you heard during the breakChapters:00:00 - Introduction to the Episode01:11 - The Journey to Community Building and Entrepreneurship13:56 - Navigating the Challenges of Business Planning28:34 - The Importance of Mentorship36:40 - The Journey to Owning a Business48:31 - Community Engagement and Business Synergy56:01 - Navigating Community and Business RelationshipsThis series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Park Manor 75Website: parkmanor75.comIG and TikTok: @parkmanor75Stay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick