Coffee roaster seeking Mount Prospect TIF funds to open in vacant storefront

A Mount Prospect woman’s hobby could blossom into a full-fledged retail business, with financial help from the village.

The Mount Prospect village board will decide Tuesday whether Heydon Coffee Roasters is eligible for the $76,000 in tax increment financing it is seeking from the downtown TIF district.

Owner Melissa Heydon is seeking the financial assistance for her plan to open a small batch, specialty coffee bean roastery in a vacant building at 500 E. Northwest Highway.

Built in the 1960s, the red brick building has housed a photography studio and a luggage shop.

The total project cost is estimated at $271,600, village officials said. The village would reimburse the business following certification of the project’s completion and documents itemizing eligible redevelopment expenses.

Based on sales projections, village officials said, the village would recoup the TIF incentive through new sales tax revenues within four or five years of operation.

“The Roastery and Coffee House will draw new foot traffic to the area, raising the profile of established retail and service based businesses, breathing fresh life into an area of great potential, to create a new ‘destination’ in Mount Prospect,” according to the business’ funding application.

Heydon has worked in account management and taught in both Chicago and London, but coffee has become her hobby and her passion. That led to a home-based business with a strong following in Arlington Heights, Park Ridge and Palatine, as well as Mount Prospect.

Now she plans to perk up a vacant corner with a small coffee house serving brewed specialty coffee, espresso drinks and homemade, small-batch bakery items.

Specialty, high-quality grade, globally imported coffee beans would be roasted on-site, using a custom coffee roaster. Her plan calls for a fall opening.