By Bob Seidenberg
Evanston community members frequently talk about the importance of a “third place” — a spot which serves as separate from home and work, where people can go to gather, relax, socialize.
”Everybody needs a third place,” said Rick Ehrensaft, a longtime resident, stopping in at Peet’s Coffee at 1622 Chicago Ave., on Monday. For a long time Peet’s has served as his.
It likely won’t be much longer.
The coffee shop is scheduled to close at the end of the month, after nearly 26 years of service.
The Evanston site is one of 20 locations across the country slated to close under the corporate decision, reported the Daily Northwestern, quoting a manager.
The decision is “corporate,” said a barista on Monday, between filling hot drinks.
If staff had their way they would keep the store running, he said. A campaign is underway to keep the Peet’s open.
Keurig Dr. Pepper acquired JDE Peet’s in an $18 million billion deal announced at the end of last year. The company’s plans called for breaking the businesses into two, with one company selling coffee and the other selling cold beverages, the Associated Press reported last year.
On Monday, just about every seat was occupied. The cafe is particularly popular with students, including Northwestern’s growing population ofAsian students, many who don’t have the luxury of going home during breaks.
Ehrensaft said he and his wife stop in Peet’s almost every day, “hang out, talk,” do some shopping at Whole Foods next door, then head home.
His relationship with Peet’s dates back even farther. He grew up in the Bay Area, close to where Peet’s had its origins in 1966.
In Evanston, Ehrensaft said his brother was associated with the owners of Unicorn Cafe, a few blocks west of Peet’s at 1723 Sherman Ave.
That shop closed after nearly 30 years in September 2020, with business heavily impacted by Covid.
Now, we’re down to Starbucks, Ehrensaft told another longtime customer, walking into the coffee bar area.
“You’re going to have to find another office.”