Union Pacific Refuses To Extend Lease To Upstairs Cafe In Evanston

EVANSTON, IL — Union Pacific Railroad terminated the lease of the cafe at the Central Street Metra station and has refused to negotiate any future deal. The owners of the Upstairs Cafe, a trio of Evanstonians who have been brewing, baking and bringing together a community of commuters every morning, will have to clear out by April 30.

The morning meeting spot has been an Evanston institution through multiple incarnations, but the railroad abruptly ended discussions of a future lease after a personnel change at the company. Through an attorney, Union Pacific told the cafe's owners it decided to "go in a different direction," said Elizabeth Hubbard. She believes Union Pacific intends to hire a commercial real estate broker but may not fully understand the needs of the community.

"They're frankly being greedy," Hubbard explained.

Hubbard, along with Shelley Patterson and Gail Doeff, took over more than four years ago, but the small retail space that contains the Upstairs Cafe has been a coffee shop of one kind or another for decades. It operated for 24 years under the name Top of the Tracks, owned by Mary Lou Smith. Prior to that, in the 1970's and 80's, the cafe was run Jimmy Shabon, long-time Evanstonians told the Evanston RoundTable.

"It's Evanston. It's not just a train depot. So we feel really disappointed," Hubbard said. The space has provided a hugely valuable spot for advice, networking and sharing the news of the community, and some people have even landed jobs as a result of Upstairs Cafe encounters, she said.

Union Pacific issued a statement Wednesday in response to media inquires saying it "greatly values" its relationship with Evanston, but a spokesperson confirmed the railroad does not intend to lease the space back to the three owners and operators.

"In an effort to maximize our impact in the community, we are currently in the process of identifying the best and most effective use of the space at Central Street Station," the statement said.

Hubbard said there was no way that Union Pacific corporate headquarters is aware of the limitations of the space.

"What we're afraid of is it's going to sit empty for a couple years, even, and we would be happy to operate it until something else came in." The company was unwilling to entertain any discussion of a month-to-month lease, she said. "We feel bad, really, for our customers and the people who use the station—even sporadically—it's just another loss of a human touch."

7th Ward Alderman Eleanor Revelle told Evanston Now it was "very shortsighted of Union Pacific" to end the lease of a business that commuters find so valuable.

Supporters of the cafe have been asking Union Pacific to reconsider their decision, by contacting the railroad's commuter relations department or by directly lobbying the board of Metra.

Top photo: The owners of Upstairs Cafe (Courtesy Elizabeth Hubbard)