Sparrow Coffee opens in Clarendon Hills after 3-year wait

The buzz started about three years ago, when word got out of plans for Sparrow Coffee to open in the former Starbucks space in downtown Clarendon Hills.

Chris Chacko established Sparrow Coffee in 2012, supplying custom roasts to numerous high-end and Michelin-starred restaurants, before opening his first physical café in Naperville in January 2018. The new Clarendon Hills location at 100 Park Ave. opened Oct. 21.

Chacko said the process of considering Clarendon Hills began in 2023 when he learned of the Starbucks closing.

“My family lives in the area, and we have been touched by the warmth and kindness of this community,” he said. “We wanted to introduce a world-class coffee shop with exceptional food that served this community with the respect it deserved.”

As for making the decision to open in Clarendon Hills, Chacko said he has always believed that if you expose people to exceptional products at a reasonable price, they will “taste the difference.”

“Success comes after they tell their family and friends to visit,” he said. “It is our hope that we will draw people from surrounding communities, and other local businesses will do better because of our presence.”

In designing the space to serve as a home for his business, Chacko said his architect was asked to create a space that could handle volume, yet offer patrons an array of various seating options, showing particular emphasis to where families can gather for conversation.

Sparrow’s initial business hours are 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., seven days a week. Chacko said it’s his goal to be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours if the community needs it.

Over the coming weeks, Chacko said Sparrow will greatly expand its offerings to include more coffee and non-alcoholic beverages, lunch offerings, and occasional items shared by friends who are successful chefs.

From the initial talk about it coming to the village to its recent opening, it was a long process, but when Sparrow opened at 100 S. Park Ave., it took over not only the former Starbucks storefront, but also spaces previously occupied by Little Creperie and State Farm Insurance.

“I do think it was worth the wait,” Clarendon Hills resident Karen Deane said. “I was looking forward to Sparrow opening. I missed having a place in town to meet up with people. I do drink coffee, though mostly at home. Having a meeting place was what I missed most, and Sparrow is ideal.”

Deane said she likes that Sparrow has more seating than was the case at Starbucks.

“It feels modern, sophisticated, and comfortable,” she said. “It’s a great addition, and based on the crowds I saw, I think it will be highly successful.”

Another Clarendon Hills resident, Kristie Wester, said she was very much looking forward to the opening of Sparrow and wasn’t at all let down when finally trying it.

“It’s hard to believe it’s finally open, but it was definitely worth the wait,” she said. “The coffee is really good, and I got my husband breakfast sandwiches, which he said were very good.

“It’s a great building, and I think it will be great for the downtown and for our community.”

Village President Eric Tech said he believes Sparrow will not only be the preeminent coffee shop in the area, but a destination known throughout the Midwest.

“Having Clarendon Hills chosen for this location is great for our town, as it will serve our residents and draw visitors to experience our special village,” he said. “Their decision to locate and invest here demonstrates that our community is willing to invest in its future, rather than accept the status quo.”

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.