Community Café Proposals Sought For Kenilworth Assembly Hall

KENILWORTH, IL — Park District officials are looking for a company to operate a community café inside of the Kenilworth Assembly Hall.

The Kenilworth Park District has operated the hall since 2016, when it was donated by the Kenilworth Club.

The park district has since invested more than $1 million in the site, which now functions as a community center, according to the park district. The building is under a preservation easement from Landmarks Illinois and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2020, district officials installed an updated lighting system that uses modern technology but remains historically accurate, and, more recently, installed a new 1,700-square-foot community patio.

The results of a survey conducted by the village earlier this year indicated that 91 percent of respondents would like to see a cafe at the hall.

According to the request for proposals, the community café will operate out of one of the only commercial kitchens on Chicago's North Shore. It would be located inside the hall's "Neighbors Room," which is located on the west side of the building and is connected to the patio.

The café operator should be a "true partner" to the park district, according to the request. The café will be able to be open between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. any day of the week.

Park district officials are looking to negotiate a four-year deal that can be reviewed for an additional two more. In addition to basic rent, the park district will collect 2 percent of monthly sales.

"Due to the percentage arrangement," the request for proposal said, "it is in the best interest of the District to help promote the Community Café wherever possible."

Read More: Full Request for Proposals for Community Café in Kenilworth