Growing up, Monica Canellis worked in her parents’ Uptown grocery store, spending weekends and college summers helping to run the family business. “This is where I got my work ethic,” she remembers. “It taught me responsibility and consistency.”

Canellis went on to work in luxury retail sales and management, where she developed strong interpersonal skills and learned to identify and prioritize clients’ goals. Later, she became a personal assistant to the manager of an award-winning rock band, gaining firsthand experience in high-level coordination.

When Canellis transitioned to real estate, it felt like a natural career step. She already knew how to listen, read people and follow through with clients — skills she honed from years in luxury retail and entertainment. “My previous jobs taught me how to build a book of business,” she says, crediting such experiences with laying the foundation for her success in real estate.

With 21 years in the industry, Canellis now works with buyers and sellers throughout Chicagoland, focusing primarily on the South Loop and Gold Coast neighborhoods. She specializes in condos and townhomes, working with first-time buyers and move-up sellers. A resident of Museum Park since 2006, she has sold more than $20 million in the South Loop alone.

In 2024, Canellis saw her average sales price increase by 77% compared to the previous year, a reflection of her growing presence in the market. Her highest career sale closed in January 2025, the result of a year-long process of working closely with clients— demonstrating her commitment, patience and personalized approach to every transaction.

Canellis is a mom and a longtime supporter of PAWS Chicago as well as the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation. She shares her home in Museum Park with her husband, FOX 32 Chicago sportscaster Lou Canellis, along with their daughter and rescue dog.