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ABPA President Rush Speaks with ChicagoLive

April 8, 2026

ABPA Announces the Little Palestine Business District in the Village of Bridgeview

The Arab-American Business and Professional Association proudly announces the official recognition of the Little Palestine Business District in the Village of Bridgeview, marking a historic milestone for a community that has been built over generations.

“This is more than just a sign. It’s the recognition of what our community has built over the last 40 years, a thriving Little Palestine Business District. What once lived through our businesses, our families, and our culture is now being seen,” said ABPA President Rush Darwish.

Little Palestine has existed through its people, its businesses, and its culture. Today, that identity is no longer just known. It is now formally recognized as a defined business district.

This recognition builds upon the official designation of April 7 as Little Palestine Day, as recognized by the State of Illinois in Springfield and by Cook County, further affirming the cultural and economic significance of this community.

Bridgeview alone is home to nearly 100 Arab owned businesses, contributing to a broader corridor of more than 200 businesses throughout the Southwest region of Cook County. Together, they represent one of the most vibrant and concentrated Arab business communities in the country.

This recognition is the result of the Little Palestine project initiated by ABPA in 2023, which has included the Little Palestine Business Verification Campaign, the Signs for Little Palestine initiative featuring three Welcome to Little Palestine signs, two in Bridgeview and one in Worth, as well as the official branding and media platforms for Little Palestine, including its logo and digital presence through visitlittlepalestine.com.

LOOKING BACK: HOW APRIL 7 BECAME LITTLE PALESTINE DAY

April 7 didn’t happen overnight. It is the result of years of vision, organizing, and community investment led by the Arab-American Business & Professional Association (ABPA), helping shape what has become one of the most vibrant Arab business and cultural corridors in the country.

That work reached the state level with the official passage of House Resolution 0166 and Senate Resolution 0191, formally establishing April 7 as Little Palestine Day and recognizing the impact of more than 200 Arab-owned businesses across a concentrated four-mile stretch in the southwest region of Cook County.

At the county level, an additional resolution further reinforced this recognition, solidifying Little Palestine as a significant cultural and economic hub within Cook County.

Momentum continued across the region as multiple municipalities stepped forward with official proclamations declaring April 7 as Little Palestine Day. The villages of Oak Lawn, Hickory Hills, Chicago Ridge, and Palos Hills each joined in recognizing the strength, presence, and contributions of this growing community.

Together, these efforts represent more than symbolic recognition. They reflect years of leadership, advocacy, and community-building led by ABPA, resulting in a unified acknowledgment of a community that has built businesses, created opportunity, and established a lasting cultural presence in the region.

April 7 now stands as a day of pride, recognition, and continued momentum — a milestone built through leadership, driven by community, and only the beginning of what comes next.

When you drive down Harlem Avenue, you feel the heartbeat of our community. The restaurants, the bakeries, the shops, the stories. But something is missing. Something powerful. Something that tells the world who we are.

Right now, there is nothing that proudly says: Welcome to Little Palestine.
No markers of our heritage, no symbol of our unity, no sign that declares our presence, our pride, and our identity.

That changes today.

We are taking a bold and long-overdue step, and we need you with us. We are proud to introduce the Signs for Little Palestine Campaign, a historic effort to install three “Welcome to Little Palestine” signs along Harlem Avenue in 2026.

These signs are more than metal and concrete. They are a declaration, a celebration, and a promise to our children that their story belongs here.

This will be the first major Little Palestine project of 2026, and with your support, it will become a landmark of pride for generations to come.

Our community is our identity. And together, we will finally make it visible.

Join us. Support the Signs for Little Palestine Campaign. Let’s put our name where our heart already lives.

Little Palestine Verified

Visit Little Palestine

Welcome to Visit Little Palestine! Explore the vibrant tapestry of our rich cultural heritage in the southwest suburbs of Cook County, IL.
We invite you to discover the traditions, flavors, and stories that make our community unique!

The Little Palestine Economic Development Committee
Progress since 2023

Is Your Business in Little Palestine? List Your Business Now!

Watch this short film about Little Palestine