Developers of the new mixed-use building under construction at Chicago Avenue and Main Street in Evanston have announced the signing of another retail tenant — Goddess and the Baker.
The small chain has two shops in downtown Chicago under that name, and the self-proclaimed goddess behind the business, Debra Sharpe, also runs four grab-and-go deli shops under the Goddess and the Grocer moniker, also in Chicago.
Goddess and the Baker has a four-star rating on Yelp and in addition to baked goods, offers coffee and tea, beer and wine, soups, salads and sandwiches. The shops are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner service. It website describes it a having the “soul of a mid-century lunch counter and the palate of a modern day gourmand.”
Goddess and the Baker will occupy 2,469 square feet in the new building. Riverside Investment & Development in partnership with Atlantic Realty Partners also have signed Evanston-based First Bank & Trust to open a branch in the building. The nine-story building will have 112 apartments and more than 12,000 square feet of office space.
Overrated
Work across the street from the one on Larrabee in the city. Way overpriced for what it is. Not bad food, just not worth what you have to pay for it.
Fantastic news!
One of my favorite lunch places during the work week. So happy to have The Goddess and the Baker in my hometown.
More and more like Chicago
Change is good. But this idea that the southeast corridor is an "economic engine" has made way for all these new developments of the past 15 years in this part of town really strip away the Evanstoness of the area and has now almost completely made it into just another Chicago neighborhood. It is here we get the huge apartment complexes that carry way more units than they reasonably should (AMLI) with narrow store fronts and door ways that bring a cheap look. While on Central Ave they put in condos with double/triple the floor plan space per unit but in a smaller building. The approach on Central is the one that should be taken across the business districts of our city to bring the entire city up in style and grace while allowing for a larger population.
It's not wise, this direction the Alderman and city counsel have taken SE Evanston. It gives the distinct impression that they don't know what a great city it is we have that they would be willing to allow such bloated developments.
There’s a difference
But the Evanstonness of the area around Central Street has always been different than that of SE Evanston and the Chicago Ave corridor. And it certainly does have much to do with what lies on the other side of their respective boarders. SE Evanston has always been a high-density and commercial zone (think blocks of big courthyard apartments and auto dealerships) that were a transition from the City. Central Street and parts north are where the density breaks down to blend with the single-family detached suburbia of Wilmette and the rest of the North Shore.
Would you like to see an auto dealer operation like the Autobarn conglomerate on Green Bay? (Imperial Motors Jaguar of Wilmette doesn't come close). Where would 2/3 of SE Evanston live if it suddenly had the same number of residences/acre as the 6th Ward?
That is what those respective neighborhoods support and are willing to tolerate. This is also how Evanston is zoned in the code; the alderman should have little to do with it unless they are meddling at the margins of the rules, which is when they just get themselves into trouble.
Car Dealer on Central
Recall there was a car dealership on Central next to the CTA station. Also one on Ridge two blocks south of Foster.
Wilmette had several dealerships on Greenbay–a fairly large one [Ford?] I think where Jewel is and one just east of the Wilmette Library.
You are correct
The car dealership on Central next to the CTA tracks was a Chrysler Dealership (It's were the 9 story medical building is, connecting to Evanston Hospital). The large car dealership on Greenbay Rd. ( the Jewel) was a Chevy Dealership. I think the one on Ridge was a Cadillac dealership. Thanks for the memories!
TOO BAD
I was hoping for Benison's II. It is the best Bakery I have seen in the last 20 years.
Good luck to the new place.
bakeries
The new addition of Beth’s Little Bakery on Central St. is a great addition…like a mini Bennisons….food and drinks are awesome, delicious, and the staff is wonderful!