Parents in West Town are getting a new spot to caffeinate while the kids burn off energy. Mini City Play Cafe, a play-focused coffee shop from local parents Amandou Lam and Adam Motz, is under construction at 1701 W. Grand Avenue and is slated to open in August. The concept pairs small-scale playhouses with a full coffee bar, giving caregivers a place to relax while kids explore. The space is also planned to host classes, special events and birthday parties geared toward young children.
Lam, a parent of twins who co-owns the project with Motz, says the goal is to “create a space that encourages imaginative play while also giving parents a place where they can genuinely relax and connect,” as reported by What Now Chicago. The cafe is intended for children ages 0–6, and the owners expect to debut the space sometime in August. Plans include a mix of drop-in play hours, private classes and birthday bookings.
Where it will be
Mini City is building out a corner storefront at Grand and Paulina on the southern edge of West Town, a stretch that listing agents and brokers identify with the neighborhood. The commercial unit at 1701 W. Grand is a recently delivered retail shell of roughly 1,900 square feet that was sold in March, according to the property listing. The Coldwell Banker listing describes the space as a vanilla-box unit with floor-to-ceiling windows and an in-unit sprinkler system, features that should help speed along the cafe’s custom build-out.
Coffee partner and menu
What Now Chicago reports the cafe will serve coffee from Magnifico Coffee Roasters, with lattes, espressos and other standard espresso drinks on the menu. Magnifico’s website lists the roastery and cafe in Avondale at 3063 N. Milwaukee Avenue and highlights in-house roasting along with wholesale and event services, making it a logical local partner for the new neighborhood spot. For more on the roaster, see Magnifico Coffee Roasters.
Designed for families
The owners are positioning Mini City as both a play space and a community hub where caregivers can connect while children play. The adaptable retail shell, combined with the planned programming, is meant to accommodate low-key weekday mornings, pop-up classes and private birthday events. As construction continues, the team plans to post updates to its social channels and lock in an exact opening date.
