WICKER PARK — Expanding coffeehouse chain Bow Truss has boldly entered Wicker Park's packed "doughnut and coffee" district and is set to open a cafe in a former dental office just east of the Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues intersection, its owner Phil Tadros said Friday.
"It's the major intersection in Wicker Park. At that intersection, who's really doing coffee the way we do? None that I know. Wormhole is an awesome place, and Buzz [Killer Espresso] is good. But still considering the amount of traffic and competition, I feel we will stand out as the preferred daily ritual," Tadros said.
Dr. Luis Casals, who had a sign advertising "Dentista" in his window for decades, ran his office like a time capsule, featuring museumlike equipment that he used on a cluster of patients who'd been loyally seeing him for years before the 81-year-old retired last year.
Tadros did not have a date for when the Bow Truss expects to open at 1948 W. North Ave. On Friday, the windows of Casals' office were papered over. The 1,760 square-foot storefront went up for rent this fall after Casals sold the building.
The free-standing one-story property is separated from a 24-hour Dunkin Donuts by a small parking lot.
Tadros, 36, is the founder of Bow Truss Coffee Roasters, which at eight coffee shops, and following Peet's acquisition of Intelligentsia Coffee last year, is now the biggest independent coffee chain in the city.
In Wicker Park, Bow Truss will face some tough competition.
Up the street, in the center of the six-corner intersection is a Starbucks, which is planning to triple in size and add beer and wine sales. On Damen Avenue is the recently remodeled Buzz Killer Espresso. A few steps south on Damen Avenue, the CTA Blue Line "L" tracks are flanked by a La Colombe coffee and Stan's Donuts.
Farther up the block, Bru, 1562 N. Milwaukee Ave., The Wormhole, 1462 N. Milwaukee Ave., and Filter Cafe, 1373 N. Milwaukee Ave., add to the caffeinated streets.
When asked how Bow Truss will differentiate itself from the pack — especially its new next door neighbor, an all-hours Dunkin — Tadros said, "I think we are in different business, as far as quality, compared to a Dunkin Donuts. We very specific about what we source, there is a difference in quality, a difference in what we sell."
Tadros also noted that the new spot, for which he's signed a 10-year-lease, is also larger than Bow Truss' "usual footprint."
Doug Renner, a Baum Realty broker tasked with leasing the spot, was not immediately available to confirm Tadros' lease.
Elsewhere in the area, Bow Truss is also coming to the base of a 60-unit building underway at 1660 W. Division St. and a 95-unit apartment building on the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Leavitt, sharing the ground-level retail spot with Aldi, which will be renovated as part of the project.
Tadros said he expects the North Avenue Bow Truss to open before the latter two projects.
Contributing: David Matthews
Pour-over pots at Bow Truss Coffee [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
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