Gladstone Park just got a lot more autumnal. October Café, the year-round, fall-themed coffee spot that first settled into Norwood Park, has opened a second Northwest Side location, bringing pumpkin-heavy drinks, cozy orange-and-brown decor, and a familiar lineup of sandwiches, pastries, and vegan options to Elston Avenue. Owners Audrey Borden and Michelle Gonzalez set out to recreate the original vibe so neighbors can dip into October any day of the year.
As reported by Block Club Chicago, the new outpost opened earlier this month at 5961 N. Elston Ave., in the former Smak-Tak restaurant space. The shop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers both pickup and delivery, so customers can grab their fall drinks whether they are lingering at a table or sprinting for the bus.
Borden and Gonzalez first launched October Café in 2023 at 6046 N. Avondale Ave. in Norwood Park, a story chronicled by North Park University. That location quickly built a devoted following with rotating maple, cinnamon and pumpkin drinks and a signature coffee flight tied to the couple’s October-focused backstory. The strong neighborhood support there laid the groundwork for branching out across the Northwest Side.
Menu And Specials That Lean Into Fall
In Gladstone Park, the menu closely tracks the Norwood Park original. Guests will find sandwiches such as a pesto panini and a Mediterranean sandwich, small plates like empanadas and rotating vegan options alongside the seasonal lattes. The owners are rolling out specials including churros and a papaya smoothie, and teens who flash a student ID can snag a grilled cheese, tater tots and lemonade for $5. Those details on the new location and its offerings were outlined in coverage by Block Club Chicago.
Neighborhood Context And A Growing Business Strip
October Café’s expansion lands in the middle of a small business growth streak in the area, a run that includes Chiquita Scoops at 6140 N. Milwaukee Ave., which opened last year, according to Nadig Newspapers. The cafe’s year-round autumn concept and its “We Fell in Love in October” coffee flight have already drawn citywide attention, as noted by WTTW, giving Borden and Gonzalez a broader platform as they step into neighboring business corridors.
Borden has become locally known for her warm greeting, often welcoming customers with “Hello, Pumpkin,” a small ritual that helped turn the Norwood Park shop into a neighborhood hangout. The couple plans to keep that same community-first approach in both locations, with frequent small-business pop-ups and family-friendly events on the calendar to keep October Café tightly woven into the daily life of the surrounding blocks.
