A new coffee shop is opening soon on Michigan Avenue, situated in the historic Fine Arts Building. The café, Groundswell Coffee Roasters, adds to the city’s numerous coffee establishments, including Starbucks’ significant presence.
The Fine Arts Building, constructed in 1885, was initially a carriage showroom for the Studebaker company. Over the years, it evolved into a vibrant hub for the arts. The structure houses galleries, theaters, and various art-related businesses. The building’s historical and cultural significance makes it an attractive location for Groundswell’s newest venture.
Local writer Keir Graff, who also resides in the building, expressed excitement about the new addition. Graff, who often prepared his coffee with an electric kettle, welcomes the convenience of a ground-floor espresso bar. He praises the building’s management for selecting suitable street-facing businesses and believes Groundswell will attract many new visitors.
Jason Foster, Groundswell’s owner, relocated from Minnesota to attend the University of Illinois Chicago. After realizing professional baseball wasn’t in his future, he focused on business. His passion for coffee led him to open the first Groundswell café in Ravenswood in 2015, followed by another outlet in the West Loop the next year.
Foster, along with architect Brian Hammersley and Gooch Design Studio, transformed a 1,000-square-foot space in the Fine Arts Building. An open elevator shaft presented a design challenge, but the team delivered a modern and welcoming café environment.
The new store will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering a menu of coffee, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and pastries from Good Ambler in the West Loop. Foster plans to be a regular presence at the new location.
Foster’s commitment to the Chicago coffee scene is clear. The Pleasant memories of the former Artists Cafe, which hosted many cultural figures for nearly sixty years, linger in this historic building. Groundswell’s arrival promises a fresh chapter in this dynamic setting.
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