The San Francisco-based Philz Coffee company is opening a Hyde Park location at 1425 E. 53rd Street on Sunday, September 1. The 1,910-square foot space will include indoor and outdoor seating with a mix of communal tables, café tables, couches, and chairs. A mural by Ruben Aguirre, a Chicago artist who has exhibited at the Hyde Park Art Center, provides a dramatic background for the space. The company opened a Wicker Park location in June, and in addition to the Hyde Park store, is preparing to open stores in Lincoln Park (late September) and Evanston (mid October). The Hyde Park location is currently accepting job applications for barista positions.
Philz refers to its coffee as “cups of love,” and the company’s mission is “bettering days,” demonstrated with its responsible sourcing and buying practices – including traceability, worker safety and the environment, social values, and a generous donation program to Food 4 Farmers and World Coffee Research. Since opening the first store in San Francisco in 2003, Philz Coffee has grown to over 50 stores across California; the Washington, D.C. area; and now Chicago.
“We’ve really fallen in love with the hospitality, kindness, and authenticity of Chicago. It feels like we belong here, and the spirit of this amazing city is what we strive for in all of our current Philz locations. We’re excited to share our second location with the neighborhood of Hyde Park and to be a gathering place for students and the community,” commented Carolyn Frey, Chief People Officer of Philz Coffee.
In a departure from the typical coffeehouse menu of lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and pre-brews, Philz Coffee offers 20 customized coffee blends made from high quality beans from around the world – all made one cup at a time to each customer’s taste – with darker, medium blends, lighter blends, decaf, and iced in 12-, 16-, or 20-ounce servings.
The food menu includes hot breakfast items, pastries, scones and muffins, cookies and bars, and bagels and bread – with some vegan and gluten-free options. Philz Coffee partners with local businesses for their menu items, including Hyde Park’s Fabiana’s Bakery and Chicago’s Aya Pastry; NYC Bagel Deli; and Good to go Fresh, a family-owned and operated Women’s Business Enterprise.
On Wednesday and Thursday, August 28th and 29th, the Philz Coffee will host “Neighborhood Days” from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., serving complimentary coffee to give the team a chance to train with actual customers. A soft opening party with complimentary coffee from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. is planned for Saturday, August 31st, and the Hyde Park location officially opens on Sunday, September 1. Click here to RSVP for any of the opening events. The store will be open every day, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
