Breaking news here at Sprudge HQ, as we’ve received word that Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea are planning to open five new retail coffee bars in 2013. This information has been confirmed by Intelligentsia’s Director of Marketing and Communciations Stephen Morrisey. Intelli’s plans call for three new cafes in the Chicago area, a previously reported retail expansion into San Francisco, and an expansion into New York City with a cafe in Manhattan’s West Chelsea neighborhood. Here’s more on each space, as confirmed by Mr. Morrissey.
New York City:
Intelligentsia’s first-ever New York City retail space will open in March 2013, in the West Chelsea section of Manhattan. The cafe will be on the ground floor of an as yet unnamed development project; an auxiliary space on the same lot is planned for the development’s public gardens, which will open later in 2013.
Chicago:
An astonishing three new cafes are slated to open in Intelligentsia’s home city of Chicago throughout 2013, including retail spaces in the Wicker Park, Logan Square, and Old Town neighborhoods.
* The Logan Square location is located directly adjacent to the Logan Theater (2646 North Milwaukee Avenue), and will feature two La Marzocco Strada EP espresso machines behind the bar. Patrons can expect a variety of manual pour over services, as well as batch brewed coffee available to go. Chicagoans familiar with the neighborhood can pass by this location in its build-out phases – perhaps on their way to brunch at Lula. Intelli Logan Square is slated to open in spring 2013.
* The Old Town neighborhood cafe will be located in the 1225 Old Town development (located at 1233 North Wells), the new mixed-use residential / commercial project from Hines Residential. Intelli’s new cafe in Old Town will be close to 1225 anchor tenants Plum Market, located right down the block from the historic Second City Theater, and within easy strolling distance of Old Town’s historic Victorian homes. This location is expected to open in early summer 2013. *UPDATE* This cafe’s opening date has been announced as June 13th, 2013.
* Intelligentsia Wicker Park will be located at the intersection of N. Ashland and W. Division, making it a cafe space that serves both the Wicker Park and East Ukrainian Village neighborhoods. Intelli Wicker Park is scheduled to open in fall 2013, and will feature a 25 x 80 foot mural wall as part of its exterior facade.
San Francisco
As previously reported, Intelligentsia’s expansion to San Francisco will focus on the Potrero Hill neighborhood. Intelli’s SF roasting works is already operational; the space will be expanded to include a cafe in fall of 2013, featuring tasteful outdoor seating options and a chance to observe Intelli’s production process along a series of touch points, from roasting to cupping to cafe service. Mr. Morrissey also let us in on an interesting tidbit: Intelli SF’s cafe will feature “brewing equipment not currently available on the market.” Your guess is as good as ours, and we’ll update when more information becomes available.
As you might expect, Intelligentsia is hiring – learn more here.
