South Shore is getting a new caffeine pit stop. The former Sunnytown Food Mart at 7104 S Jeffery Blvd is in the middle of a full makeover into Jeffery Java & Juice, a compact breakfast-and-coffee spot that aims to catch both morning commuters and neighborhood regulars along the E. 71st Street corridor. Construction is underway, though the owner has not yet set an opening date.
According to What Now Chicago, the project is listed as Jeffery Java & Juice, after previously being teased as Jeffery Java & Old-Fashioned Donuts. The owner is identified as Luster Lockhart. The publication notes that work is visibly in progress at the 7104 S Jeffery Blvd site, which most recently operated as a small convenience store called Sunnytown Food Mart. What Now Chicago also reported that the concept first appeared on a city planning account in late 2023 and that the buildout is backed by a community development grant.
The menu is not your standard corner-coffee fare. A post from the Chicago Department of Planning & Development’s Instagram account, cited by What Now Chicago, promises vegan donuts, breakfast waffle sandwiches, and Ethiopian coffee. The post shows a coffee program paired with housemade pastries and breakfast sandwiches, signaling a more ambitious setup than a simple grab-and-go counter. Construction progress has been shared on an Instagram account under the name @jefferyjavajuice, according to the same report.
City Grant Helped Push Project Over The Line
The cafe is one of several neighborhood projects that received a lift from the city’s Chicago Recovery Plan. Jeffery Java & Old-Fashioned Donuts appears on a list of community development finalists released by the Chicago Department of Planning & Development. Coverage from Eater Chicago reports that the South Shore project received roughly $250,000 in Chicago Recovery Plan funding.
“New and expanding businesses have multiple challenges, especially involving project financing, which is what CRP grants help to resolve,” DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox said in the city’s release. For Jeffery Java & Juice, that support appears to be the difference between an idea on paper and a real storefront on Jeffery.
Prime Corner For Commuters And Neighbors
The storefront at 7104 S Jeffery sits directly on the E. 71st Street commercial corridor and a short walk from Metra’s Bryn Mawr station at 71st and Jeffery. Station details from Metra confirm the South Chicago branch stop at that intersection, which puts the upcoming cafe in a convenient spot for riders looking to grab coffee on the way to the train or back home.
The business is formally listed in the City of Chicago vendor registry as Jeffery Java & Juice With Old Fashioned Donuts, LLC, hinting that the donut concept is still part of the long-term plan even as branding shifts toward juice and coffee.
Construction photos and short progress notes are being posted on Instagram at the @jefferyjavajuice account, but there is still no firm opening date. More details are expected to surface as permits are finalized or the owner publicly announces an official launch timeline.
