Starting his business was tough for Jorge Ferreyra, the owner of Thimi’s Empanadas in Little Italy.

“We started with no money at all,” he said. “The first day, I remember we sold like eight empanadas. We had no money for advertising or marketing mappings.”

Then one day, Ferreyra said, a customer who worked for the Chicago Blackhawks came in and said he’d be able to help boost the business. Apparently something worked, as since then, Ferreyra has gained more customers and done pop-ups at breweries — which led to him getting a call to participate in this year’s Taste of Chicago.

This weekend marked the 45th anniversary of Taste of Chicago, a beloved summer tradition that gives attendees the chance to expand their palates with food from diverse backgrounds, and provides businesses the oppo

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