Groundswell Coffee Roasters Opens in Historic Fine Arts Building

A new coffee shop opening might not seem like big news. Chicago already houses around 1,000 coffee shops. Among them, Starbucks leads with approximately 175 locations, including a massive five-story outlet at 646 N. Michigan Ave. Now, the city welcomes Groundswell Coffee Roasters at 410 S. Michigan Ave., on the ground floor of the renowned Fine Arts Building.

The Fine Arts Building, constructed in 1885, originally served as a carriage assembly for the Studebaker company. Major renovations followed when Studebaker shifted to larger premises, adding two floors to its initial eight stories. This transformation brought together galleries, theaters, lofts, dance and recording studios, musical instrument makers, music teachers, a bookstore, and other arts-related businesses in a dynamic environment.

Keir Graff, a talented city writer and tenant of the building, authored “Chicago’s Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic, and Murder.” Graff expresses enthusiasm about the new addition: “Working here every day, I’ve been making my own coffee with an electric kettle. The convenience of ordering a tasty espresso drink from Groundswell enhances my daily routine. I love this building, and the new shop invites more people to appreciate its history and tenants.”

Groundswell’s owner, Jason Foster, is a former baseball pitcher from Minnesota. He moved to Chicago for his studies and baseball career at the University of Illinois Chicago. Realizing professional sports was not his path, Foster shifted focus to business and developed a passion for coffee during his time managing a Starbucks. Alongside a college friend, he launched the first Groundswell location in Ravenswood in 2015, followed by another in the West Loop the next year.

For nearly a year, Foster’s team worked on opening Groundswell under the Fine Arts Building, attracted by its architectural charm and historic significance. The new coffee shop, sprawling over 1,000 square feet, features architecture by Brian Hammersley of Hammersley Architecture and design by Gooch Design Studio. The interior design faced challenges like covering an open elevator shaft in the middle of the space.

Set to open soon, operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the shop will offer coffee, a limited food menu, and pastries from Good Ambler. Foster, divorced and residing in Palatine, plans frequent visits while managing personal life and parenting his 10-year-old son, Atlas, who shares his father’s love for baseball.

Groundswell’s location replaces the now-empty space of the Artists Cafe, once the cultural community’s culinary hub. Founded by George Mitchell, it hosted several celebrities and influential figures. Irene Makris, Mitchell’s sister-in-law, worked there for decades, cherishing memories and planning to visit Groundswell once it opens. They served locals, students, performers, and art enthusiasts in Chicago’s vibrant area.