Opening a new coffee shop in a city with a thousand options might not grab headlines. Yet, Groundswell Coffee Roasters is doing just that on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. With a location in the Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan Ave., Groundswell joins a unique collection of tenants that include galleries, theaters, dance studios, and more.
This historic building, constructed in 1885 for Studebaker’s carriages, later transformed into a hub for arts with renovations that added two floors. Today, it’s a lively place where writer Keir Graff makes coffee with an electric kettle. He’s thrilled to see Groundswell welcoming people to learn about the building and its tenants.
A new coffee shop provides a convenient spot for building occupants and visitors to enjoy a freshly made espresso.
Jason Foster, the owner of Groundswell Coffee Roasters, brings his affability and experience as a former baseball pitcher to his latest endeavor.
Foster arrived in Chicago to play baseball for the University of Illinois Chicago but was drawn to the business side of food service. Realizing his passion for coffee, he and a college friend opened their first Groundswell in Ravenswood in 2015, followed by another in the West Loop. This new location in the Fine Arts Building follows a year of planning.
Designed by local architects Brian Hammersley and interior experts Gooch Design Studio, the space is about 1,000 square feet. Challenges included adapting to an open elevator shaft. Once permits are secured, the shop will operate daily, offering coffee from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., accompanied by breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and pastries from Good Ambler.
Foster, who lives in Palatine and has a son who plays baseball, plans to be present frequently at the Fine Arts Building location. The opening holds significance for the community, bringing back memories of the Artists Cafe, a cultural fixture opened by George Mitchell nearly 60 years ago.
The Artists Cafe was a culinary center frequented by famous personalities and residents alike. Irene Makris, who worked there, recalls its impact. Makris remains a neighborhood resident and is eager to visit Groundswell Coffee Roasters to reconnect with the area’s vibrant past.
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