Creativo! drops its pre-school, but the business will maintain a presence in Edgebrook on Chicago’s NW Side

by BRIAN NADIG

Creativo! Academy at 5407 W. Devon Ave. in Edgebrook is dropping its pre-school program after nearly 20 years, but the business will continue to offer a summer camp, a toy and game shop, and other services.

“It’s been my life here. I’ve raised my kids through Creativo,” said Creativo owner Julie Marske, who lives in the Edgebrook area. “I think of this community as my family.”

The academy opened in 2006 and quickly became popular with local families, and at times the academy partnered with the nearby Edgebrook School, 6525 N. Hiawatha Ave., for after-school and other programs. “We had 60 children coming through our doors daily,” Marske said.

Marske also help start North Branch Arts, a nonprofit that until 2018 had a storefront at 5421 W. Devon Ave. The arts center provided a variety of educational programs for children and help run the art program at Edgebrook School for several years.

She also spearheaded the creation of the North Branch Arts community garden at 6413 N. Kinzua Ave., which in 2011 became the first certified “Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom“ in Chicago. The garden remains an integral part of the community.

The pandemic forced Marske to do some re-inventing of her business model along with the 2023 opening of a Chicago Public Schools pre-school at 5320 W. Devon Ave.

“I’ve known this was coming for a long time. … I’ve prepared for it,” Marske said.

The storefront at 5407 W. Devon is being renamed “Creativo! Toys and Games” and will feature “hand-picked educational” toys and games for families that will draw customers from throughout the Chicago area. “My goal is to bring other people into the neighborhood” in an effort to also help other stores, she said.

Marske said that in addition to maintaining the game shop, the summer camp and the community garden, she will operate an event space for birthday parties and other functions at 6324 N. Central Ave., where she had a toy store for 4 years. The space also will host “parents night out,” where activities will be held for children while the parents go on a date, she said.

Marske has taught CCD classes for the Saint Mary of the Woods Parish, served as a board member of the Edgebrook Community Association and was a member of the Edgebrook PTA. She estimates that she has donated about $75,000 to the community through her business and other entities.

Marske said that her landlord, George Michael, has been very supported for the day she started her business. “I couldn’t have done it without his support,” she said. “He looked out for me.”

“Being in this business for 19 years, I feel really blessed,” Marske said, adding that she hopes to continue to make a positive impact on the community.

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