Printer's Row Coffee debuts in Kingsbury, near Goose Island

Nick and Nicole Novotny began experimenting and roasting coffee beans at home when they lived in Akron, Ohio. A move to Chicago – to Printer's Row – led to further honing of these skills and the 2015 opening of Printer's Row Coffee in Lincoln Park, a roastery specializing in small-batch, single-origin coffee. At 750 square feet, it didn't take long for them to outgrow the space.

After two years of searching for a location, followed by eight months of construction, a second Printer's Row Coffee. opened Saturday, June 1 at 1400 N. Kingsbury Street, along a stretch that includes a massive Whole Foods sales floor and Off Color Brewing's Mousetrap

Located in a building that once served as a cold storage warehouse, the 3,000-square-foot space was just a blank slate when the couple took it over. “It was just wooden ceilings and brick walls,” says Nicole. “One of the benefits of starting from scratch is being able to get everything you want.”

At its new location, Printer's Row offers a menu very similar to its original, featuring light to medium roasts in the range that the Novotnys say allows drinkers to better appreciate the unique flavor notes of single-origin coffees. Syrups are made on site with seasonal flavors that complement favorites. Macadamia milk stands out on the list of non-dairy alternatives available for lattes and other drinks.

Local pastries are present, including Downstate Donuts. “We used to work with them years ago and they recently brought back the wholesale business and we are excited to welcome them to their new location,” says Nicole, a big fan of their potato fritters . Traditional croissants and assorted danishes come from Brite Donuts in West Town. Additional foods could be added later, says Nicole. “We’re always willing to change and see what people are interested in and go from there. »

For the design of the open room, half of which is the café and the other half the production, the idea was to retain the original character of the space as much as possible. Incorporating a neutral color palette, design elements were kept to a minimum – a few plants here, a few faded rugs there – only to add more later. It is an open space with a counter with electrical outlets and an outdoor patio along Kingsbury.

“One of the things I find so interesting is how our first place has changed over time, with all the character that has filled it over the years we've been there,” says Nicole. “That’s something we want to do in this new space.” We want it to be something that we can also grow into over time.

Finding vintage items and refurbishing them is another passion of Nick, who roasts and is a pharmacist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Nicole, a graphic designer. All of the Printer's Row chairs from the 1970s originally came from a university in Colorado, but ended up in Indiana where the couple found them online before refurbishing them. The merchandise shelves were also created from vintage materials.

Unlike their first location, which only has a handful of rail seats and a small patio, the new location has plenty of seating. In addition to two- and four-top tables in the center of the space, there is a central seating area equipped with a vintage sofa and chairs. The bar's six bar stools provide a front-row seat to the coffee roasting process. East and south facing windows and an opening garage door provide plenty of natural light during the day. Outside there is a secluded patio with seating for 16.

“We really wanted to be able to provide a space for people to enjoy their coffee, engage with us, and make connections in that physical space,” says Nicole. “The spirit of Printer’s Row is pretty awesome and now having two locations is going to be cool.”

Printer's Row Coffee Co.1400 N. Kingsbury Street, open daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.