One of Chicago's quieter coffee success stories is stepping onto a very visible Loop stage. Mojo Coffee, the New Zealand-born specialty chain that has been steadily planting flags around downtown, is taking over the ground-floor corner at 70 W. Madison that once belonged to Starbucks. For office landlords trying to reboot the workday routine, this is exactly the kind of swap they like to brag about.
As first reported by the Chicago Business Journal, Mojo has signed a lease for the former Starbucks space at 70 West Madison. The April 6 report notes that the change comes as office foot traffic at the property, and across the Loop, remains choppy and below pre-pandemic norms. The Journal did not identify a public opening date for the new café.
Leasing team and ownership
Madison Rose announced that "Mojo Coffee NZ is coming to 70 W Madison" in a post thanking the JLL brokers who put the deal together. The post credits Steve S., Peter Caruso and Jose Gonzalez of JLL with representing ownership, which includes Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management. Madison Rose framed the lease as part of a broader effort to refresh the building’s ground-floor lineup with new retail names.
Mojo's Chicago footprint
Mojo Coffee highlights the chain’s Chicago push in its U.S. materials, including a blog post pointing customers toward a downtown store. Local listings from Eater Chicago show Mojo operating at 200 S. Wacker and other Loop addresses. The concept pairs specialty coffee with a tight food menu that is clearly designed for weekday office crowds who want something a step above lobby drip but still fast enough to grab between meetings.
What it means for Loop retail
The lease is a small, real-world example of how owners are chasing operators that can drive steady weekday traffic instead of leaning only on big national banners. Data from Placer.ai, summarized by Commercial Property Executive, shows office visits in many major markets are still trailing pre-pandemic levels, with Chicago lagging some peers. Brokers argue that targeted food and beverage tenants make buildings stickier for workers who have a choice about when, or if, to come in.
Details on the opening timeline and menu at 70 W. Madison have not yet been released. Even so, the deal marks another incremental move in the Loop’s ongoing retail reshuffle, as landlords try to stitch ground-floor spaces back into the daily rhythm of Chicago’s office core.
