Bartlett still brews over coffee vendor for new station

Bartlett's Metra riders can expect to wait a while until the convenience of buying that cup of Joe comes to their new station, scheduled to open in a few weeks.

Little progress has been made toward picking a coffee vendor for the small space designated for a retailer inside the station, though village officials put the word out months ago.

In the latest delay, multiple absences from the Economic Development Commission's Monday meeting thwarted a vote on the proposals on the table.

Though 15 people and businesses, including Starbucks and Caribou, initially expressed interest, just three made formal submittals:

• Gift Gourmet, the only local applicant, has been doing business in Bartlett for 20 years. It now serves the commuter crowd from its location on Railroad Avenue, just steps from both the current and soon-to-open train stations.

The coffee shop would relocate to the station and continue selling beverages, gift baskets and other gift items from 5 to 10 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on the weekends. Owner Arlene Steinhofer proposed leasing the space for $250 a month for 1 to 2 years.

• Tazza would be a modern, high-end coffee shop that sells beverages, fresh fruit, bagels, and newspapers and magazines.

Its owner, Mark Duris of Roselle-based Old Neighborhood Inc., wants to target the early-bird commuters by operating 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays and on some weekends with heavy traffic because of events like the Taste of Chicago.

Duris wrote in his extensive business plan that he aims to hit nearly $120,000 in sales in the 2008 fiscal year. He proposed licensing the space for four years at $1,200 per month.

• Frank Mrozek of Chicago proposes selling coffee, beverages, pastries and snacks from 5 to 11 a.m. weekdays and possibly Saturdays. He would also install two vending machines.

Mrozek, whose parents live in Bartlett, cited 30 years' family experience in retail sales, specifically cafeterias in businesses and schools. He'd give the village 20 percent of his profit, which trustees said would add an unwanted layer of bureaucracy.

Mayor Catherine Melchert and some trustees said Morzek's proposal shouldn't be considered since it lacked required financial and insurance information. Still, the board agreed to forward on his proposal to the Economic Development Commission.

When the commission finally does meet, it's not obligated to recommend a certain vendor. In fact, the panel may decide to scrap the proposals and start again.

Whichever coffee vendor eventually gets the nod will get access to the 1,200 daily riders on the line's second busiest station, behind only Schaumburg.