A new community-focused cafe is preparing to open in Rogers Park, as Josh and Lynn Marshall bring their long-held hospitality vision to life. At 7010 N. Clark St., they will debut all their hard work on Monarch Community Cafe to Chicagoans.
The couple’s inspiration came from years spent in hospitality and their own experiences using cafes as places to gather and connect. Even the Monarch name reflects their vision for community; Monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles together each year to the same destination.
“We felt that this area needed and deserved a large community gathering space that fosters connection through delicious food and shared experiences,” explained Josh, who spent seven years with Intelligentsia Coffee, while Lynn was a former high school Spanish teacher.
“Lynn and I planned our entire wedding over many visits and hours spent in a Panera cafe, which made us realize how rare it is to find high-quality, local, all-day spaces where you can meet up, work, get coffee, eat, and later get dessert.”
They are targeting a June 15 opening date, pending final inspections and licensing. The 3,500-square-foot space has been designed as an all-day gathering place with coffee, tea, fresh food, a retail market, community seating, games, and a dedicated kids’ area. It will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Monarch Community Cafe’s menu will feature coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, salads, yogurt bowls, and specialty coffee- and tea-themed milkshakes, including Espresso, Chai, Matcha, and Earl Grey flavors. The cafe also plans to offer an extensive decaf program and future shared tasting experiences.
The project has been strongly supported by the community, raising more than $32,000 through Kickstarter. Josh says they, “definitely could not have done it without the Rogers Park community, which has been so supportive and encouraging through this process.”
