Daily Bean coffee shop reopens at St. Charles Library
The Daily Bean is back.
The coffee shop at the St. Charles Public Library is the result of a collaboration between library officials and the St. Charles Unit District 303 Transition Services team, which helps students with special needs between the ages of 18 and 22 adjust to more independent lifestyles.
The shop had been closed for much of the school year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it reopened on Jan. 19 for the first time since November with the library open to the public and District 303 returning to at least partial in-person learning for all its students.
The library is temporarily located at the Haines building at 305 S. Ninth Street while a new $18.6 million facility is built at the southeast corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue.
"This program has really been a win-win situation for both the library and our students who are learning skills that are transferrable to the real world," district spokeswoman Carol Smith said. "They have patrons who come on a regular basis and time their visits so they can get a cup of coffee."
The Daily Bean first opened in the spring of 2019 after library Executive Director Edith Craig met with district officials about forming a partnership.
Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on school days, the Daily Bean offers PapaNicholas Coffee in addition to tea and hot chocolate. All proceeds go to support the Transition program.
"We celebrated their reopening and we're glad they're back here with us," Craig said.
The location at the Haines building is ideal. Not only is it situated near the front entrance, it's also where the Transition program is based.
Craig, though, is already excited about the layout of the future Daily Bean when construction is finished this summer on the new library. Located on the main floor, the shop will be easily accessed by patrons, staff and anyone else craving a treat.
"In the old building they weren't really in a visible spot, and here at Haines they're in a great spot," Craig said. "With the visibility they'll have in our new building, I think it'll be super popular."