Restaurant Chain Coming To Hinsdale Train Station

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale has struck an agreement with a restaurant chain for the downtown train station, according to a village memo. It requires the Village Board's approval.

Hometown Coffee and Juice has been chosen by a village committee. It has locations in Glencoe, Winnetka, Lake Forest and Glenview.

In the village memo, Hometown was described as a fast-casual café offering coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and light food service.

The restaurant serves over 1 million customers a year, the memo said.

The train station space was formerly occupied by Casa Margarita, whose lease expired last summer. It has locations in La Grange, Orland Park, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove and Chicago.

At a Village Board meeting a year ago, then-Village President Tom Cauley expressed his concerns about Casa Margarita.

During the same meeting, a businessman told the board that he wanted to open Le Jolie, a French restaurant, in the train station.

The village's memo said officials received nine proposals for the space. Eight were for restaurants, while one was a retail concept, officials said earlier this year. No business names were released.

Under the 11-year agreement, the rent would start at $31 per square foot in the first year, increasing to $42 in the last year.

Hometown is required to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. (If the business finds it's not economically viable to be open from 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., it can appeal to close earlier.)

The chain is taking the property as is, with an investment of at least $1.25 million. A full interior renovation is planned "to match brand standards," the memo said.

The memo said Metra ticket office's space was a potential expansion opportunity for Hometown.

The Village Board plans to review the agreement at its meeting Tuesday.