







by BRIAN NADIG

A casual cafe featuring coffee, deli-style sandwiches and craft beers on tap is planned for the former Edward Fox Photography Studio, 4900 N. Milwaukee Ave.

The Weston’s Coffee and Tap Company, which is scheduled to open late this year, is named after owner and Jefferson Park resident Nick Davis’ 2 1/2-year-old son.

Davis said that the menu will be "lean" to allow for quick service, especially for customers who are using the Jefferson Park CTA terminal, but that patrons will be encouraged to linger and use the cafe’s WiFi. "It’s going to be one of those places that is very community oriented," he said. "I want people to hang out."

The expected hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the mix of coffee, beer, wine, smoothies and sandwiches is intended to keep the cafe busy throughout the day.

Plans call for eight American craft beers to be available on tap and which will vary each month. "This will keep people interested, and it’ll be our marketing niche," Davis said. "We won’t sell bottled beer."

The 1,300-square-foot restaurant will occupy about half of the former photography studio, which moved to Norwood Park last year.

A developer is rehabbing the building and adding two floors, each with three apartments. A grant from the city’s Small Business Improvement Fund Program is being sought for construction of the restaurant.

Davis said that his food industry background includes working at a steakhouse in Ohio and that he hopes that his establishment will stand out from the other casual restaurants in the area. His business plan describes Weston’s as "offering a unique twist to the traditional American coffee house."

Bread for the sub sandwiches will be made in-house, and Davis is looking into using family recipes for some of the sweet selections on the menu.