The city of Chicago is home to around 1,000 coffee shops, with Starbucks leading the charge with 175 locations, including a massive five-story shop on North Michigan Avenue. This month, another coffee shop joins the bustling coffee scene at 410 South Michigan Avenue. Groundswell Coffee Roasters is the newest addition and holds a special place in the storied Fine Arts Building’s ground floor.
The Fine Arts Building has a rich history. Constructed in 1885 for Studebaker as a carriage assembly site, it later underwent significant renovations and expansion. The building is now a vibrant hub for art galleries, theaters, lofts, dance and recording studios, musical instrument makers, music teachers, a bookstore, and arts-related businesses. The building even features in a book by noted writer Keir Graff, titled Chicago’s Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic, and Murder.
Graff, who works in the building, is enthusiastic about the new coffee shop, noting that it will allow people to learn more about the building’s history.
Groundswell’s owner, Jason Foster, hosted an informal meet-and-greet with new neighbors before the official public opening. A Minnesota native, Foster moved to Chicago to play baseball at the University of Illinois Chicago. After realizing he wouldn’t turn professional, he studied business and worked in the food service industry, eventually managing a Starbucks. His passion for coffee led him to open the first Groundswell shop in Ravenswood in 2015, followed by another in the West Loop a year later.
The Fine Arts Building location was a year in development. Foster credits Brian Hammersley of Hammersley Architecture and Gooch Design Studio, both based in the building, for the space’s design. The new cafe will open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering coffee, breakfast burritos, all-day sandwiches, and pastries from Good Ambler in the West Loop. Foster, who lives in Palatine, is excited to spend time at the new shop and introduce his 10-year-old son, Atlas, to the area.
The site once housed the Artists Cafe, a beloved place for artists and cultural figures. Founded by George Mitchell nearly 60 years ago, the cafe saw visits from stars like Bette Midler and Mick Jagger. Many locals fondly remember the cafe’s role in the community. Irene Makris, Mitchell’s sister-in-law, shared stories of the cafe’s history and its impact on the neighborhood. She plans to visit the new coffee shop to reminisce and enjoy a cup of coffee.