Coffee shop coming to Mt. Prospect train station
Commuters using Mount Prospect's downtown Metra station will soon again be getting their morning coffee jolt. This week, the village board gave its approval to a lease with Two Services LLC, which will operate as Morning Blend.
Community Development Director William Cooney said that Two Services will operate under a five-year lease agreement with the village, paying $550 per month.
A previous tenant, Lilia's Cafe had operated there for a year and a half but terminated the lease at the end of last year.
Two Services was chosen by a committee that included Cooney after the village issued a request for proposals which drew two responses, the second from Mount Prospect resident Gene Bazan, who had been managing Lilia's for its last few months of existence.
The committee recommended Two Services because it had experience operating at other train stations in the Chicago area and offered $2,200 more per year, Cooney said.
Two Services has been in business for 15 years, with coffee shops in Northbrook, Highland Park and Villa Park, the group's Toula Retsos said.
Asked why Two Services is succeeding in those locations when Mount Prospect has had trouble keeping an operator, the group's Charlie Bliss answered, “We serve really good coffee.”
The group said it could open by the end of next week.
Bazan's neighbor, Jerry Clauser, spoke on Bazan's behalf, saying he has known the family since the 1960s. “He has had hands-on experience with this operation.”
Bazan reminded the village board of its professed commitment to local entrepreneurs. He had attended the village's Entrepreneur Cafe/Business Roundtable.
“The village has made a statement that it is looking for small businesses,” he said. “You can't get a whole lot smaller.”
He noted that he has managed several automotive distribution centers and has a better grasp on what the commuter needs after working there, and talked of additional services he would offer. But his ideas didn't win trustee support.
Trustee Arlene Juracek said the coffee shop is a high-risk proposition that, perhaps, requires deeper pockets and more experience to achieve sustainability.
Trustee Michael Zadel said the village encourages local entrepreneurs, but added, “I don't think we ever had any intention to create an entitlement program.”