Philz Coffee, a San Francisco-based coffee shop chain, plans to open its second Chicago-area location at 1030 Davis St. in Evanston next year.
Plans up for review Wednesday by the city’s Design and Project Review Committee call for the shop to occupy roughly the front third of the 6,000-square-foot former Studiomedia building on the southeast corner of Davis and Oak Avenue.
A diagram of the planned coffee shop layout.
Building owner Marty Cless says the new business will have about 30 total employees with between four and 10 on duty at different times.
The chain plans to be open seven days a week, typically from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Philz Coffee sells coffee, tea and specialty drinks like hot chocolate as well as a limited food menu of pastries, bagels and toast with spreads as well as pre-made food items from third party providers.
The Studiomedia building in 2015.
It makes drinks to order and uses local bakeries for its food items.
The chain offers a mobile app that lets customers order beverages ahead of time to be ready when they arrive, but it does not have a delivery service.
The company, which now has about 50 locations in California and the Washington, D.C., area is in the midst of a venture-capital-based expansion and plans to open its first Chicago-area shop in Wicker Park.
Um…Berry Pike café?
Really? With Berry Pike Café directly across the street? At least it won’t be done in by another Starbucks.
Another coffee shop within 50ft of BerryPike???
Not fair to Berry Pike cafe, a local business. How can city approve another cafe within 50ft of this Cafe? Isn’t this the reason there is Civic Hall and city laws that should be involved in such conflicting situation?
Not fair?
Why and how do you think that legal, ethical and innovative competition is “not fair”?
If this business is willing to invest in Evanston and isn’t asking for, nor receiving subsidies from Evanston City government, or Cook County or the State of Illinois, why should they be denied?
Maybe, just maybe, Berry Pike Cafe will feel compelled to up their game and their loyal patrons will receive better service and better quality products – a win/win.
Just look at the current success of Collectivo Coffee – I’m sure there were a lot of naysayers about this Milwaukee based organization opening in Evanston.
I think it’s “fair” to welcome new ideas and innovative thinking that keeps Evanston vibrant instead of the insular, Evanstonian thinking.
Isn’t Berry Pike more lunch
Isn’t Berry Pike more lunch spot than coffeeshop? The success of the Coffee Lab expansion suggests a pretty strong market for comfortable spots to read and study.
At any rate, with no city subsidy mentioned, there isn’t much the city can, or in my opinionshoild, do.