Cafe at Library? Possible Owners Back Out of Deal

After 11 years, the is still struggling to keep a coffee shop in the building. The idea of the coffee shop was among the highlights that voters appreciated when authorizing a referendum to construct the facility when it first opened in 2001.

The coffee shop was anticipated to be an attraction for book lovers, seeking to discuss tomes, share lively topics and rattle off tall stories or spin "yarns" in a place that welcomed, embraced even, that style of conversation.  

The fourth attempt to install a long-standing café was abandoned the way a paper cup filled with cold coffee gets tossed into the garbage. The owners of the Bookworm Café on Monday sent word that they would not be opening their doors, despite the fact that they had signed a contract in April to rent the designated space within the New Lenox Public Library.

In an e-mail message, the owners of the planned coffee shop—Lisa Abu-Samra, Mohammed Abu-Samra, Andy Vaitkus and Nancy Jensen—told Kate Hall, library director, that they were dissolving their partnership and halting plans to serve coffee, sandwiches, salads, smoothies and soft drinks in a separate section of the library, near the front doors.

Despite the owners' break-up, a similar facility operated by the group called Bookworm Café in Oak Lawn Public Library remains open. 

The New Lenox Public Library café was scheduled to open on June 25, but  the owners sent word shortly before that they needed more time. Already they have installed about $5,000 worth of equipment into the facility and begun a repainting project, according to Hall.   

Hall told library board members that she began to suspect there was a problem a couple of weeks ago when she failed to get a response to phone calls and email messages. A more strongly worded message sent July 12 resulted in news that the partnership had dissolved.

Library Board President Louis Broccolo said he was particularly annoyed because of the cost of establishing a contract. About $1,200 was spent on preparing legal documents, said Hall.

Because the coffee shop owners backed away, the board agreed to charge them $800 in back rent, which includes $375 for June and July along with a $25 late fee for each month. Also the board decided to keep the $850 security deposit and charge the renters the cost of having the facility repainted. The painting fee has not yet been determined.   

The first café opened with the library in 2001. The tenant remained for four years, but then the facility sat vacant for 12 months. A fresh brew of the concept was unveiled, but it lasted only about 18 months. The last tenant, Kim Slotis, operated the Book and Bean Café from January to July 2011. The shop closed after she became ill.

Finally, the owners of the look-alike coffee shop in Oak Lawn poured out yet another plan for gourmet coffee and sandwiches to be gobbled up like a good book. But on Veterans Parkway, the coffee bean just doesn't seem to thrive.

With that in mind, Hall asked the board to consider installing a Keurig™-type of single-cup coffee machine. It's a "value added" product for patrons, she said. The board is continuing to consider the idea of installing a self-service coffee machine. At this time, the board is not considering a fresh pot of proposals for opening another renter-operated coffee shop.

Hall noted Wednesday that the library is seeking community feedback about what else might be established in the spot previously designated as a coffee shop. The library staff prepared a survey for its patrons.

Take the library survey here.