WEST LOOP — A bakery and cafe that doubles as a late-night cookie delivery service is coming to the West Loop this summer.
With baker Joe Dela Pena, trader Francis Wisniewski plans to open Warm Belly Bakery, a coffee and cookie cafe at 1148 W. Monroe St. Wisniewski signed a lease on the retail space this week, he confirmed Wednesday.
Right now, Wisniewski plans for the shop to be open for coffee and breakfast service from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with cookie delivery to continue until 3 a.m.
Wisniewski, who operates Hard 8 Trading in the Loop, didn't have to go far to find the ideal property to open the independent bakery — his massive loft condo is a few doors down. Wisniewski said Warm Belly Bakery would offer delivery like Insomnia Cookies in Lincoln Park, but aims to offer a better treat.
"My friend [Joe] is a baker and I think his cookies are better," he said of Dela Pena, who is also a teacher and tennis coach.
With Google laying roots in the neighborhood and the Chicago Children's Theatre's plans to renovate the old Near West District Police Station across the street, Wisniewski said a neighborhood cafe was really needed at the intersection of Monroe and Racine.
"There are condos being built all over the place, but there is a real lack of food in the residential area in the West Loop," he said.
Warm Belly Bakery will also deliver to the UIC campus.
Realtor Armando Chacon, who is also president of the West Central Association, represented the property's owner in the lease deal.
Although his 15,000-square-foot loft, featuring a 15-car garage and casino room, went on the market for millions in 2014, Wisniewski said today he still lives in the building at 1140 W. Monroe St.
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