Culture Connects 707, an events space on Howard Street, could be in for a serious glow-up. Owner James Simelton is pitching a reinvention of the spot as an all-day community hub that pours coffee while the sun is up and packs in laughs after dark. He has applied for licensing to switch the concept, though he says there is no opening date on the books just yet. For now, the venue at 707 W Howard St keeps doing what it already does: hosting open-mic nights, showcases, and small concerts.
Plan: Coffee By Day, Comedy By Night
According to Evanston Now, the proposal would turn Culture Connects into a daytime café that flips into an evening performance room. The shift would stretch the venue's hours and change how the Howard Street storefront works as part of the neighborhood mix.
Venue's Programming Now
Ticketing pages and event listings show Culture Connects regularly booking comedy showcases, poetry slams, and open-mic nights, underscoring its current role as a neighborhood performance room. Recent shows and ticket pages appear on platforms such as Eventbrite, giving a snapshot of how the space is already drawing crowds.
Where It Fits On Howard Street
The storefront is listed in city economic documents as Culture Connects LLC at 707 W Howard St, set among several small restaurants and a short walk from the Howard CTA station. City of Evanston planning materials show that the business name at that address, grounding the proposed change in the official paperwork.
What's Next
Simelton told reporters he has applied for licensing and is waiting to lock in details before releasing a menu or announcing an opening date, according to WhatNow. That coverage also notes the venue's Instagram describes the space as a “Venue space for all your celebrating needs; parties, pop-up shops, baby showers, prom send-offs and more. We got you.” For now, Simelton is steering people to the business's social pages for updates while the Howard Street spot waits to see whether it can officially add coffee cups to its comedy lineup.
