Success #3
Success #3
March: Three Chefs Reopens at New Site in 17th Ward as Café 75
An Auburn Gresham local favorite restaurant that closed in March 2018. Customers had hoped a new location would be coming soon. The family owned business over the years in 21st Ward, received lots of support from our neighborhood business center.
It took almost two years, and a new little spot Café 75, located at 7550 S. Halsted for serving breakfast and lunch during the early part of 2020, just before the pandemic hit. When we reached out to the owner, Chef Wallace just to check in how they were making it through the pandemic, like most restaurants, Café 75 had resolved to a carry out only menu.
Working with the 17th Ward Alderman and other local leaders, a referral to the Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation (GECDC) for assistance maneuvering the pandemic was recommended. Café 75 said they had recently partnered with 17th Ward Alderman, St. Sabina, Reverend Jessie Jackson, GECDC and other community partners to give away food and PPE. At the event, the chef was reminded of the consultation work and plans we started right before they had to close the 83rd Halsted location.
Because Café 75 is situated on the Auburn Gresham / Englewood border, as part of our consultation work we agreed to continue working with the chef and build on GECDC’s to help ensure Café 75 succeeds. They are selling many of the fabulous dishes that made Three Chefs famous. The menu and hours this time focus only for breakfast and brunch/lunch only. Observing some of the same restaurant challenges identified in previous years, we agree I’d work collaboratively and with deep and meaningful consultation support, so we can help them on a solid path to make good decisions for sustainable success in 2021.
Because Café 75 is situated on the Auburn Gresham / Englewood border, as part of our consultation work we agreed to continue working with the chef and build on GECDC’s to help ensure Café 75 succeeds. They are selling many of the fabulous dishes that made Three Chefs famous. The menu and hours this time focus only for breakfast and brunch/lunch only. Observing some of the same restaurant challenges identified in previous years, we agree I’d work collaboratively and with deep and meaningful consultation support, so we can help them on a solid path to make good decisions for sustainable success in 2021.