New Vintage's Coffee House Style Makes Me Want to Curl Up with a Cup

Have you been to yet?

Like all the best places, it's slightly off the beaten path; tucked away in a little storefront on Calendar Court making drinks and doing them right. With a coffee house feel, it's the kind of place you can curl up with your latte.

I stopped in earlier this week for the first time and left wholly converted.

Owner Arlene Kallien has big dreams for her little slice of the La Grange coffee market. She opened New Vintage in October 2011 after an exhaustive search, but one look at her storefront sealed the deal. Kallien said she was drawn to La Grange's bustling downtown with a small town feel.

"I love this community," Kallien said excitedly. "I really hope that [New Vintage] takes off, because I would love to move here."

A desire to move to La Grange is understandable—Kallien currently lives in Aurora and commutes. She said she looked at storefronts in Naperville, but while comparable, they lacked the charm of La Grange.

"It was just a great fit," she said.

New Vintage Coffee is her first business, having previously worked in public relations and as a freelance journalist. While writing is still a passion, opening her own shop just felt like a thing she needed to do.

"It was on my bucket list," Kallien said. "It's something I've always wanted, and what I've created here is what I like as a customer. I saw an opening for a place with a more homey feel."

At first glance, New Vintage reminded me of the old Grant Street Coffee located on Harris Street, which many La Grange residents still mourn the loss of. Comfortable, mix-matched furniture provides plenty of places to relax alone, or sit with a group of friends. A group of small tables by the entrance provides seating for those working on their computers, and a television in the corner plays a rotation of classic movies. The shop also sports a variety of board games for those looking to hang out for a while, and its walls are dotted with photos of classic beauties like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.

But aesthetics aside, what New Vintage does best is coffee.

"I know it sounds cocky, but I make no apologies," Kallien said. "I have a great product."

Customers can choose from a long list of beverages—from an Arnold Palmer to smoothies to pretty much any coffee concoction you can think of. In fact, as I sat on a bright orange vinyl couch in the center of the room, a man walked in with one of the strangest caffeine requests I think I've ever heard. But, without missing a beat, Kallien was up and behind the counter making just what the customer ordered: four shots of espresso, 3 packets of Splenda, sugar-free flavored syrup (hazelnut, vanilla, caramel), iced and blended. He had a train to catch at and was out the door in about three minutes.

"You like it strong, don't you," Kallien joked with the customer.

"Yes, I do," he replied seriously.

Aside from serving up exactly what the customer orders, New Vintage is also bringing back a coffee house tradition that is sorely missing in La Grange—. La Grange residents in search of some good coffee house-style guitar jams will be delighted. Live music is a vital element that can be lacking in downtown La Grange. With the exception of 's weekly , there just aren't many options. 

"We're still pretty new to the music business," Kallien said. The weekend performances got off the ground about three weeks ago. "It's really nice to just see people hanging out."

They Can Make it Black, but They're in the Red

With this list of delightful distinctions, it's a wonder that the place isn't packed on a daily basis. Unfortunately, New Vintage is on the verge of closing down. Kallien's off-the-beaten-path cafe is cozy, but it's been tough on the new business to gain traction in a community dominated by big business coffee shops on either side of town.

"I'm sucking wind right now," Kallien admitted. "We're operating in the red, and if it doesn't pick up, we'll have to close."

Someone I discussed this article with recently said to me that coffee is one of those things that you stick to and it's hard to make a change: you like , or you like . I'd agree with those sentiments, but Kallien is sure she can make converts, if they just try the first sip.

New Vintage is hoping to get some with a Cash Mob event on July 21. Think of a "flash mob" but everyone comes in to buy something to support a local business. 

Want to check out New Vintage before then? You've got a great chance this weekend while you enjoy your beverage of choice.