Des Plaines to help pay for Metra station coffee shop
Des Plaines aldermen last week approved providing up to $15,000 to help fund construction of a coffee shop inside the city's downtown Metra station.
The money, to be provided through proceeds from the city's downtown tax increment financing district, is part of the city's business assistance program.
The city council approved a five-year exclusive license and concession agreement in April with The Local Coffee Tea & Sweets, LLC to operate a 360-square-foot counter service cafe inside the city-owned train station at 1501 Miner St. The coffee shop owners will pay the city a monthly fee of $450 - an amount that will rise by 3 percent each year of the five-year deal.
The city has already made more than $700,000 in renovations to the interior and exterior of the train station as part of a downtown streetscape project.