Popular Pilsen café and North side pop-up pastry shop select CTA to open their second locations, catering to customers on-the-go
The Chicago Transit Authority today continued its mission to partner with local businesses and expand offerings to rail customers by officially welcoming two popular neighborhood cafés to the Brown and Pink lines.
After more than 20 years, the popular Pilsen coffeehouse Café Jumping Bean will be expanding its presence in the neighborhood by leasing the concession space at the Damen Pink Line station, 2010 S. Damen Ave. The space will serve as the second location for the neighborhood café, making it even easier for customers to swing by for a sip or taste of gourmet offerings on their way to or from work, home or school.
Brown Line riders and those living near the Wellington e station also will soon have a new go-to place for fresh baked pastries and gourmet coffee to-go with the addition of pop-up pastry shop Smack Dab, which has leased the concession space located at 945 W. Wellington Ave. The shop specializes in offering a wide array of sweet and savory pastries, biscuits, breads – including gluten-free options.
Since May 2011, the CTA has partnered with more than 30 local businesses, providing CTA customers with additional options for a more pleasant commute. Local businesses include Flacos Tacos, Gino’s North Pizzeria, the Churro Factory, Bagelers and now Café Jumping Bean and Smack Dab among many others.
Also awarded today was a long-term lease for the retail space located at 1405 W. Morse Ave. The existing tenant Blyumin Foot and Ankle clinic, which has occupied the space since 1996, but has been on a month-to-month lease since 2011, was awarded the lease following a competitive bid process.
The leases awarded to Café Jumping Bean and Blyumin Foot and Ankle have base terms of 10 years, while the lease with Smack Dab has a base term of five years. All three leases have two five-year options to extend. The net present value of the base-term leases is approximately $221,208, and reflects CTA’s effort to eliminate month-to-month leases and secure more long-term leases.
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