WEST RIDGE — Feel like transitioning from that venti, skinny, iced caramel macchiato with no whip to a nice red wine at the Starbucks after a long day? You could have the option soon at the location at 6108 N. Western Ave.
Or not. It appears plans for the shop to sell alcohol have hit a communication snag.
In late August, Ald. Patrick O'Connor's (40th) office sent out a notice to residents alerting them the West Ridge location would offer selections from its "Starbucks Evenings" menu — a beer, wine and small plates program in place at about 10 Chicago stores currently.
A Starbucks spokesman confirmed that the Western Ave. location would become an "Evenings" spot and officials from O'Connor's office as well as Starbucks estimated the offerings would be served beginning between 2-4 p.m. and lasting through the store's closing time of 10 p.m.
"We are excited that Starbucks will be offering this program to our neighborhood Starbucks," the alderman's message read.
But an employee at the store reached by phone Tuesday said the store had not yet applied for a liquor license and that she did not know the location had been officially chosen for the menu expansion.
Starbucks declined to answer additional questions regarding the confusion and would not give a projected launch date for the menu.
O'Connor's office said the alderman met with Starbucks reps regarding the addition of alcohol at the store, at which point he gave them "the go-ahead to proceed," his office said.
"We are not sure why corporate has not told that location that these additions are coming to their store yet," a representative from O'Connor's office said.
Initially, Starbucks said they'd chosen the Western Avenue location as a site for the Starbucks Evenings menu because of the neighborhood.
"When considering a location, there are a number of factors before bringing a new experience to a store, just as we do in each new neighborhood we consider. We believe a coffeehouse should be a welcoming, inviting and familiar place for people to connect with the ultimate goal of providing the right experience and products that reflect the unique character of the neighborhoods they serve," the company said.
In the alderman's letter to residents, he says that in other "Evenings" stores, only a handful generally of the special menu items are sold each day, accounting for less than 1 percent of the store's overall sales.
In neighboring Albany Park, Ald. Deb Mell (33rd) has presented similar plans to residents for a spot on Kedzie Avenue, though many of the locations offering the "curated" menu with "regional" booze selections are Downtown.
Representatives from O'Connor's office said they would make another announcement when Starbucks officially begins the process of integrating the menu into the West Ridge location.
Until then, caffeine and pastries will have to do.
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