Groundswell Coffee Roasters has opened a new location in the historic Fine Arts Building. The concept is an all-day cafe serving specialty coffee, breakfast, lunch, and pastries. The cafe occupies the space next to the former Artists Cafe storefront.
Groundswell Coffee Arrives at the Fine Arts Building
Groundswell Coffee Roasters opened at 410 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, it joins the Fine Arts Building, a Chicago Landmark known for its long history as a hub for artists and creatives. The roughly 1,000-square-foot cafe is the first to open in the Fine Arts Building in seven years. Guests can visit the new location every day from 7 am to 7 pm.
The cafe offers an exclusive Groundswell x Fine Arts Building coffee roast. The menu features locally roasted coffees prepared by Groundswell baristas. Certified baristas brew each cup, bringing customers back for repeat visits. The menu also features a breakfast burrito, all-day sandwiches, and a variety of fresh pastries from the Chicago bakery Good Ambler.
Groundswell founder Jason Foster said the Fine Arts Building was a perfect fit for Groundswell. “After a decade of owning and operating Groundswell Coffee Roasters, I was eager to create a space that stands out from the typical vanilla new construction-type cafes. I was looking for a place with character and history,” added Foster.
The cafe is Groundswell’s third Chicago location. It follows success in Ravenswood and the West Loop and marks its expansion beyond wholesale coffee roasting.
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Fine Arts Building’s Revitalization
The new cafe marks another step towards the continued restoration of the Fine Arts Building. The building has undergone several preservation projects in recent years, including the restoration of the Studebaker Theater.
The Fine Arts Building and its owner, Erica Berger, received a Preservation Excellence Award in 2025. The honor came from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. The recognition was for the restoration of the building’s storefront façade along South Michigan Avenue.
The cafe is designed by Hammersley Architecture. Gooch Design Studio handled the interiors. Both companies are located in the Fine Arts Building. Hammersley Architecture also worked on the Studebaker Theater renovation.
The Fine Arts Building is a Chicago Landmark, originally designated in 1978. Artists, musicians, performers, galleries, and creative businesses continue to work at the space. It also runs free Second Fridays open studio events every month. These include exhibitions, shows, demos, and performances by artists in various parts of the building.
Groundswell Coffee Roasters was founded in 2015 by Jason Foster and Armand Candea. The company operates a wholesale business providing roasted coffee to cafes, restaurants, and businesses in Chicago.
