Recently, Twice A' Round, a consignment store, opened in the Masonic Temple building at Lee and Miner; shortly thereafter, signs went up next door for Sweet Remembrance, a cafe serving "coffee, cake, and comfort" (and presumably madelines,) opening in September. It's been a while since there has been a nice cafe or bakery downtown. Kaffecino sort of fit that bill, but it was always a strange hybrid of coffeeshop, convenience store, and sandwich shop. If Sweet Rememberance is good and builds a good buzz, it could go far. Assuming the city doesn't tear down this fully-leased historic building to put up an ill-considered Police Station.
This raises an important point. These businesses have chosen to locate in a historic building, NOT Metropolitan Square or Library Plaza, both of which have vacancies. This points to precisely why a healthy downtown needs a mix of old and new buildings. Old buildings have somewhat lower rent and lease prices and smaller spaces that make them viable for small businesses to start out in. There is less overhead, less risk. We all know that an ecosystem needs diversity to thrive - the same is true of a downtown. You need that mix of uses, a mix of rental prices, a mix of small and chain businesses, to make it work. These historic buildings are incubators to small businesses. That's why the Masonic Temple is full, and Metropolitan Square isn't.
Morava Building, Before and After Remodeling
And on the other side of the railroad tracks on Lee Street, a new restaurant is going in at 686 Lee, next to Alpine Camera, most recently Little Amsterdam Restaurant. I have heard rumors that the Fiesta del Sol Express Mexican Restaurant that was until recently in the Des Plaines Theatre building is the tenant. Whoever it is, I wish them luck - this space seems cursed, having hosted Little Amsterdam, the extremely short-lived "Maroo", Elliott's Off Broadway Deli, Deli Headquarters, Bud's Deli, and for many years Morava Stationery. And if it is a Mexican restaurant, they have to compete with the long-lived Mexico Restaurant just a few doors down.
