Three Peas Art Lounge - Celebrating the Art in Life

Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood continues to emerge into one of the city’s prime dwelling spots for the younger crowd. Business owners aim to tailor their companies to this specific clientele with hopes to introduce new venues into the area. Three Peas Art Lounge is one of those businesses.

Located on 16th Street and Michigan Avenue, Three Peas Art Lounge, which opened last March, is the creation of co-owners Maya-Camille Broussard and Chrishon Lampley. A lounge that features paintings, pottery and photography of emerging contemporary artists in and from Chicago (the three peas), along with the comfort of wines, pastries, coffees and teas were two ideas merged into one concept and a perfect fit for their client base.

Through Broussard’s experience as a teacher in the arts and in outreach, she says she observed how some of her students and their families were intimidated by the art culture.

“The goal of the art lounge is to incorporate many different genres of art into the lives of people,” says the Chicago native

Broussard, 31, and Lampley, 35, a Downers Grove, Ill. native, met through a mutual friend at a bridal shower in 2006. Broussard says she originally approached Lampley for advice and a management perspective with the concept of an art gallery that sold pastries and included a bar. Lampley says she was interested in creating a lounge for a business. With Broussard’s background as a curator in the arts, in addition to Lampley’s years of experience in sales and customer service in high-end retail, Lampley says it was just what they needed.

“We knew this was something that wasn’t in Chicago,” says Lampley. “It’s different. We also knew the South Loop is the easiest place for people to get to from anywhere in the city. This was an area that wasn’t tapped into.”

Lampley admits it was nothing but fate that made her and Broussard’s universes cross each other. Ironically, months after the two met, Lampley says she mentioned Broussard’s mother’s name to her family, and she made the connection: Broussard’s late grandfather, Luther Billingslea, and Lampley’s father, Louis Lampley, Sr. owned one of the first black nurseries in Chicago over 40 years ago.

“Partnerships are the number one failing entity of a business, but we have the most perfect ying yang business relationship,” says Lampley. “You have to find someone you gel with and respect each other.”

Lampley says her and Broussard approached about 30 banks before they were approved for a loan, mainly because of their lack of experience in the bar and restaurant industry, according to the banks.

“There were a lot of bumps and it took a lot of thinking ‘outside the box’,” says Lampley. “We kept going until we found someone who believed in us.”

In March 2009, Three Peas Art Lounge was born. At the lounge, Lampley says a different artist’s work and theme are featured every month. The artwork displayed is not only to view, but is for sale for customers while they enjoy the lounge’s infamous red velvet cupcakes or their signature peach cobbler martinis. The lounge has also turned into space for private cocktail events for clients.

“The neighborhood’s great to us and we’re able to support them the best way we can,” comments Lampley.

Broussard says the partnership is working to launch an expansion of their company. GOT DAM!, which premiered in January, is a collaboration of art-centered events in dance, art and music, which will take place in venues outside of the South Loop lounge.

“We’re young, growing and we want to expand,” says Lampley. “We want a Three Peas in D.C., one in Charlotte and in other cities. Hopefully, you’ll see us popping up all over the country.”

For more information on the Three Peas Art Lounge visit www.threepeasartlounge.com.  

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Iya' Facts: Iya Bakare is a freelance writer who earned both her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Print Journalism. She earned her B.A. from Delta State University with a minor in English and recently graduated with a M.A. degree from Columbia College Chicago. The Chicago native currently freelances for Chicago-based online publications. She can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 *Photography by Kyle Wolff