Groundswell Coffee Roasters opened a 1,000-square-foot cafe inside Chicago’s historic Fine Arts Building in July, featuring interiors that reference the landmark’s Art Deco details. The new outpost is the company’s third cafe and was designed to feel specific to the Fine Arts Building rather than a generic new-construction space. Founder Jason Foster led the project with contributions from architect Brian Hammersley and Gooch Design Studio.
Interiors pair white counters and beams with natural wood floors, a velvet couch and a salvaged gilt-framed mirror from an original elevator. The bar is equipped with a La Marzocco Linea Classic S espresso machine and Mahlkönig grinders, and Groundswell noted its roasting capacity previously moved from a Diedrich IR5 to a larger Giesen W15A. The menu includes pastries and sandwiches from Good Ambler and an exclusive Groundswell x Fine Arts Building roast.
The cafe aims to offer a bright, welcoming gathering place for artists, students and theatergoers while honoring the building’s character. Foster said the project reflects intentional, thoughtful growth and a focus on distinctive, community-focused spaces rather than rapid expansion.
Image Credit: Groundswell Coffee
