ALBANY PARK — A boozy Starbucks serving craft beer and wine, which the coffee chain has dubbed its "Evenings" concept, could be coming to the Kedzie and Wilson location.
To date Starbucks Evenings stores, which debuted in Chicago in 2012, have largely been clustered around Downtown. Recent liquor license applications to expand Evenings to six additional Chicago cafes mostly builds on that trend, but also includes proposed forays into Albany Park and Hyde Park.
The applications are for incidental licenses, meaning alcohol sales would be secondary to the coffee shops' primary business.
"The Evenings menu is truly for our customers who start their day at Starbucks and would like to end their day at Starbucks with a small plate, craft beer or wine — without the traditional bar environment," said Starbucks spokeswoman Holly Hart Shafer.
Ald. Deb Mell (33rd) is gathering feedback from constituents, which so far indicates that residents support Evenings coming to Kedzie, she said.
"It's not like they're selling 40 ounces. It's Starbucks," Mell said.
Albany Park Neighbors is taking the pulse of its members via Facebook, with the majority of comments running in favor of bringing Evenings to the neighborhood.
"A kid friendly place I can walk to and have a glass of wine?! No brainer!! Yes please!" posted one resident.
"In Italy there's no distinction between a cafe and a bar. And they are wholesome places, not sleazy dives like a lot of taverns here. We need a more mature approach to alcohol here," wrote another.
Along with beer and wine, Evenings also includes what Hart Shafer called a "small curated menu" of dining options such as truffle mac 'n' cheese, artichoke and goat cheese flatbread, chicken skewers and bacon-wrapped dates.
The liquor license applications are just the first step in a months-long process, she noted.
It "could be a very long time" before patrons actually see Evenings introduced, "or not at all," Hart Shafer said.
In addition to its location at 4558 N. Kedzie Ave., Starbucks has also applied for liquor licenses at: 1 E. Delaware Pl., 520 N. Ogden Ave., 1530 E. 53rd St., 401 E. Ontario St. and 1230 N. Wells St.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
