A 120-Year-Old Jefferson Park Firehouse Is Becoming a Small Business Incubator — And the City Just Put $250,000 Behind It
By Socialhood News · Jefferson Park ·
Jefferson Park neighbors, a building that has quietly anchored the corner of 4841 N. Lipps Ave. for more than a century is about to roar back to life — and this time, it won't be firefighters rushing out the doors. The historic former Jefferson Park firehouse, built in 1906, is being transformed into "Parlor Station," a beauty and wellness small business incubator housing up to 15 independent operators. And the project just received a major financial vote of confidence: a City of Chicago community development grant of up to $250,000 has been awarded specifically to fund the first-floor retail build-out.
The grant was one of 58 neighborhood improvement projects citywide to share in $33 million in city funding — a sign that Jefferson Park's firehouse revival is being recognized not just as a local win, but as a model worth investing in. The project is spearheaded by Tim Pomaville, president of Ambrosia Homes, Inc., and his wife Lidia Pomaville, who have spent the better part of a decade working to breathe new life into this long-vacant landmark.
The vision for Parlor Station is both practical and inspired. According to Lidia Pomaville, the space is designed for hair stylists and skin and nail treatment specialists who are ready to run their own businesses but aren't yet in a position to take on the full cost of a standalone storefront. The planned tenant mix includes a hair salon, nail spa, massage studio, and a medical aesthetics area for treatments like Botox — each operating under its own individual lease. Lidia, who has spent 15 years as a physician assistant in the dermatology industry, says she plans to personally mentor the business owners, connecting them with industry contacts and helping with marketing.
"I know that a lot of the professionals in this industry" want exactly this kind of supported launchpad, Lidia Pomaville has said of the concept. The idea is that tenants won't just share a building — they'll share customers, referring clients across specialties and building a tight-knit professional community under one historic roof.
The firehouse itself has had a winding road to this moment. The City of Chicago sold the building to Tim Pomaville's Ambrosia Homes years ago in exchange for a $200,000 escrow deposit to cover estimated environmental remediation costs on the site. Early plans had envisioned a brewery on the first floor, but those plans ultimately fell through. Meanwhile, construction has already begun on the second floor, where four residential apartments are being built out — meaning Parlor Station will be part of a true mixed-use revival, combining small business space below with new housing above.
When the Pomavilles presented their plans at a community meeting organized by Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th Ward), attendees responded with enthusiasm. All community feedback from that meeting was positive — a notable moment for a project that has been years in the making. Ald. Gardiner has consistently pushed to bring the kind of development momentum seen in nearby Six Corners to Jefferson Park's own commercial corridors, and Parlor Station fits squarely into that vision.
For a neighborhood that has been steadily accumulating wins — from new public art along Milwaukee Avenue to a major grocery store on the horizon — Parlor Station represents something especially meaningful: an investment in the people who already call Jefferson Park home. By creating affordable, mentorship-backed storefronts for local beauty and wellness entrepreneurs, the project turns a piece of neighborhood history into a launching pad for the next generation of Northwest Side small business owners.
Keep an eye on 4841 N. Lipps Ave. as construction and buildout progress. For the latest on Parlor Station and other neighborhood development news, follow the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce at jeffersonparkchamber.com and Ald. Gardiner's 45th Ward office for updates on timing and how local professionals can apply for space.
Sources:
1. https://www.preservationchicago.org/win-jefferson-park-firehouse-receives-city-grant-for-retail-build-out/
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/10/historic-jefferson-park-firehouse-could-be-turned-into-salon-suite-for-local-businesses/