Casteel Coffee on Central Street in Evanston closed over the weekend.
In a message emailed to customers and posted on the store windows owner Carol Harris said she “took many measures to avoid this alternative, to no avail.”
Casteel, which traces its history to 1987, when Lee Casteel began roasting coffee in Evanston, has operated over the years as the Bean Counter Cafe on Central Street, as Casteel Coffee on Main Street, and in the location now closing at 2924 Central.
Harris says customers can get orders filled through Uncommon Grounds of Saugatuck, Mich., which has been roasting coffee for Casteel for the past several months.
I’m really surpised that they
I'm really surpised that they lasted this long. Their hours were kind of strange….they opened kind of late in the morning, so you couldn't stop there before work.
And I wasn't sure what they were. A coffee roaster? Apparently not, since the coffee has been roasted in Michigan for several months. If roasting was their business originally, they were getting crushed by Metropolis and Intelligentsia. A competitor to Starbucks? Not really, since Starbucks is all about getting the drinks out fast and in volume, and Starbucks (both east and west of Casteel) is open in the morning and in the evening. Their location wasn't really good if that was their plan.
Were they are toy store or gift shop? The place was full of stuff.
Speaking of local coffee shops…what's up with Unicorn on Sherman? Closing at 8? Cosi, Starbucks, Peet's…and soon to be Pret a Manger are open past 8.
This is why I don't get all sentimental over 'local' businesses.
So sorry.
Casteel had great coffee which I've enjoyed in various forms since they started on Main Street. The type of place that makes Evanston great and, sadly, becoming rarer and rarer.
Best of luck Carol. You'll be sorely missed.
So…
Bean Counter opened on Central – and Starbucks opens down the street.
Casteel opened on Main – and Starbucks opens down the street.
Casteel opened on west Central – and Starbucks opens down the street.
Unicorn opened on Sherman – and Starbucks opens across the street.
Starbucks grabs the commuter business and leaves the local shops with folks who spend 3 hours in the shop on an americano and a biscotti.