Perched above 35th Street in Bronzeville, Kelli's, a woman-owned cafe-bar, is quickly stepping into the role of the neighborhood's missing "third space." Open since late 2024, the spot has settled into a steady day-to-night groove: coffee and laptop time in the morning and afternoon, cocktails and community gatherings after dark. Neighbors say it already feels like an easy place to convene.
From Daytime Coworking To Nighttime Cocktails
Located on the second floor at 210 E. 35th Street, Kelli's posts daytime hours geared toward remote workers and later weekend nights on its official site. According to Kelli's Chicago, the menu combines baked goods and breakfast sandwiches with signature cocktails and a small-plates lineup designed to serve both daytime regulars and evening events.
Workforce Training In The Back Room
Crushers Club, the Englewood nonprofit that trains and employs teens, outlines a workforce model that places young people into neighborhood businesses after training and certification. Crushers Club's website names Rashad Grant as chief program director and details the group's emphasis on paid work experience and job-readiness for youth.
Owner Roots And Local Ties
Owner Kelli Dace, a University of Illinois alumna who grew up in the area, spent about two years persuading the building owner to take her on as a tenant and ultimately opened Kelli's in late 2024, according to Block Club Chicago. That reporting also notes that Kelli's partners with Crushers Club to create paid work experience for local teens and that Dace has used the venue's programming to spotlight Black- and women-owned spirit brands.
Events, Partnerships, And A Neighborhood Room
Beyond coffee service and small plates, Kelli's has doubled as a setting for panels, happy hours, and community meetups, with event listings showing themed gatherings in the space. Its calendar has appeared on local platforms such as EventNoire, reinforcing its role as a multipurpose neighborhood room.
For residents looking for a place to grab morning coffee, catch up with a friend, or host a small event without leaving Bronzeville, Kelli's is filling that gap with a mix of food, drinks, and programming. Hours, menus, and reservation details are available on Kelli's Chicago's website, and local groups such as Crushers Club say they plan to keep building pipelines that connect youth to paying jobs close to home.
