Colectivo Coffee plans to open a second location in Evanston at the former Lincolnwood Service Station, bringing the Milwaukee-based coffee chain to the Central Street area.
The cafe at 2945 Central St., expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, will feature 2,500 square feet of space and will offer seating for 48 guests indoors and around 80 guests outdoors.
“We’re excited to continue growing in Evanston and become part of the Central Street community,” said Scott Isabella, president of Colectivo Coffee, in a statement released Friday. “This building has a unique character that made it a natural fit for Colectivo. We look forward to creating a warm, welcoming cafe with inviting indoor and outdoor spaces where neighbors can gather and connect.”
The building was constructed in 1938 as a Pure Oil gasoline and service station, one of many the company built in the area around its Chicago headquarters.
Due to its distinct architecture as a Tudor Revival-style cottage, the city designated it a local landmark in 1977, which means any major alterations to its exterior require approval from the city’s Preservation Commission in the form of a Certificate of Appropriateness.
“Any time a business chooses Central Street as its home, it shows we’re succeeding at business attraction,” said Angela Shaffer, community director at Central Street Evanston. “Our vibrant district has a great retail mix, and Colectivo is a wonderful fit, in my view.”
The new Colectivo will transform the space, using large overhead garage doors to bridge between the cafe indoors and the patio seating outdoors. The patio will offer landscaping, a trellis and benches.
“Yes, Colectivo is a small chain, but they do a great job of making their locations feel independent, and they seem to do a good job of blending into the surrounding community,” Shaffer said. “I think they are proving this by preserving a beautiful historic property, thus respecting Central Street’s history.”
The cafe will serve the full Colectivo menu, including espresso drinks, coffee, cold brew, breakfast, sandwiches and bakery items.
“This is a great win for Central Street and will add even more vibrancy to the west end,” Shaffer said.
Founded in Milwaukee in 1993, Colectivo opened its first Illinois cafe in 2017 and now operates 23 cafes throughout Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison. Evanston’s first Colectivo location at 716 Church St. opened in the fall of 2018.
