Our Story
Built for the stores Chicago forgot.
Bema is a discovery platform for the city's independent home and design businesses — the ones that deserve to be found, but rarely are.
The Problem
The best local stores are buried on page four.
Search Chicago for a tile showroom, a specialty lighting dealer, or an independent wallpaper store, and you'll get pages of results dominated by Home Depot, Wayfair, and national chains.
The independent showroom three miles away — the one with a carefully curated selection and staff who actually know what they're talking about — doesn't appear until page four, if at all.
Who Bema Serves
Two sides of the same city.
For Chicago Consumers
Where your research starts. When you're planning a renovation, redesigning a room, or simply trying to find something better than what the big retailers offer, Bema connects you with local businesses across the city's neighborhoods that can actually help.
For Chicago Business Owners
A level playing field. Every listing gets equal, fair visibility — no paid placements, no algorithms working against you. A simple $20/month listing puts your business in front of customers who are actively looking for exactly what you offer.
What You'll Find
Specialists, not storefronts.
The businesses on Bema include wallpaper stores, lighting showrooms, tile and flooring dealers, kitchen and bath specialists, interior design boutiques, custom furniture makers, fabric stores, specialty paint retailers, window treatment shops, and unique home goods retailers.
These aren't generic storefronts. They're businesses built on expertise, craftsmanship, and real selection.
One great discovery at a time.
Bema is built and maintained by Bema Supports LLC. We launched in 2025, starting right here in Chicago, and are growing neighborhood by neighborhood, one great discovery at a time.