'Leave Starbucks and come here.'
PapaNicholas is a New Rare, Sumptuous Find
Eva Lynne Gavarette
Issue date: 3/1/08 Section: Arts & Culture
The Original PapaNicholas Café is a new coffee house where big name coffee takes a back seat to the forgotten days of mom and pop shops. While coffee chains like Starbucks are abound in the city, PapaNicholas is a rare brew in a sea of average blends.
PapaNicholas Coffee is a Chicago-based company with brand recognition as Chicago's number one whole bean roaster. "Chicago likes its own and would support us," said owner Cynthia Goldman. "We want all Chicago local coffee drinkers to leave Starbucks and come here." PapaNicholas Café has an inviting, wholesome environment. Customers can sit in and partake on ambrosial sandwiches of chicken salad with apples and mozzarella cheese, not just carry out a peanut butter brownie with their coffee.
On Sundays, customers can watch a ball-game with their kids and sip on lattes and hot cocoa instead of beer. "We wanted it to be some place we would want to go to," Goldman said. Besides buying a cup of coffee, individual pounds of coffee can be purchased for less than the retail price at local supermarkets. In fact, the flavored coffee they stock cannot even be found in local stores, making it a rare and sumptuous find. One such flavor is Mexican Liquor, reminiscent of a shot of Kahlua and cream which is often drunk after a fine Mexican meal.
The Original PapaNicholas Café had a "soft opening" in November 2007, with its grand opening later in January 2008. Goldman explained, "We had no idea what we were doing. We are not a franchise. We needed a learning and a startup period." The café is owned by husband and wife Tim Hebert and Cynthia Goldman. Prior to this venture, Hebert worked for a printing company, while Goldman works full-time in sales. Her Project Management Master's Degree has been quite beneficial. "Tim was burnt out and we were tired of the work force. It was now or never. If we waited until we were of retirement age, it would be too risky." Goldman is friends with the PapaNicholas family, and they have entered into a licensing agreement. After much research, planning, and a year-long process, they launched their dream careers.
The Original PapaNicholas Café is a great place to study and eat a sandwich. Plebeians can relax and meet friends. At any given time there is always someone there working or studying, undoubtedly hooked up to the Internet. Frequent customer Briana Bourland said, "I love the hot chocolate and the chocolate croissant. I will definitely come again!"
The Original PapaNicholas Café, located at 4431 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Jefferson Park neighborhood, one block north of Montrose Ave., is open as early as 5:30 a.m. during the week and close as late as 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
PapaNicholas Coffee is a Chicago-based company with brand recognition as Chicago's number one whole bean roaster. "Chicago likes its own and would support us," said owner Cynthia Goldman. "We want all Chicago local coffee drinkers to leave Starbucks and come here." PapaNicholas Café has an inviting, wholesome environment. Customers can sit in and partake on ambrosial sandwiches of chicken salad with apples and mozzarella cheese, not just carry out a peanut butter brownie with their coffee.
On Sundays, customers can watch a ball-game with their kids and sip on lattes and hot cocoa instead of beer. "We wanted it to be some place we would want to go to," Goldman said. Besides buying a cup of coffee, individual pounds of coffee can be purchased for less than the retail price at local supermarkets. In fact, the flavored coffee they stock cannot even be found in local stores, making it a rare and sumptuous find. One such flavor is Mexican Liquor, reminiscent of a shot of Kahlua and cream which is often drunk after a fine Mexican meal.
The Original PapaNicholas Café had a "soft opening" in November 2007, with its grand opening later in January 2008. Goldman explained, "We had no idea what we were doing. We are not a franchise. We needed a learning and a startup period." The café is owned by husband and wife Tim Hebert and Cynthia Goldman. Prior to this venture, Hebert worked for a printing company, while Goldman works full-time in sales. Her Project Management Master's Degree has been quite beneficial. "Tim was burnt out and we were tired of the work force. It was now or never. If we waited until we were of retirement age, it would be too risky." Goldman is friends with the PapaNicholas family, and they have entered into a licensing agreement. After much research, planning, and a year-long process, they launched their dream careers.
The Original PapaNicholas Café is a great place to study and eat a sandwich. Plebeians can relax and meet friends. At any given time there is always someone there working or studying, undoubtedly hooked up to the Internet. Frequent customer Briana Bourland said, "I love the hot chocolate and the chocolate croissant. I will definitely come again!"
The Original PapaNicholas Café, located at 4431 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Jefferson Park neighborhood, one block north of Montrose Ave., is open as early as 5:30 a.m. during the week and close as late as 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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