02.28.2020 |
Starting as one small cafe in the Uptown neighborhood right here in Chicago, IL this coffee house has evolved into having over 15 locations throughout the Windy City. They roast their own coffee, prepare and make their own pastries, bake their own bread, and serve the people of Chicago with smiling faces. CEO and Founder of Dollop Coffee Co. Dan Weiss started out by helping two friends open up the first Dollop in 2005, but by 2010 Weiss wanted to take control and turn the coffee house into what he knew it could be. This started the Dollop Coffee Co. Empire in Chicago.
The Man Behind it All
When Dan Weiss got his first taste of the coffee bug back in 2009, he actually opened up his own coffee take-out shop called Kickstand. Finding the perfect location in the Lakeview neighborhood, right next to the subway, attracted thousands of people every day and Weiss had his first glimpse of succession.
It was then that he decided to go back to his two friends, buy them out, and make some changes to the original Dollop Coffee Co. location in Uptown. He began sourcing from local artisans to make the menu just a little bit better and expanded into sandwiches, as well as added bigger tables to give the space more of a communal feel. Most importantly, he worked with the staff behind the bar to give every customer who walked through their doors a consistent coffee experience.
With these changes, Dollop was doing better than ever, and expanding to more locations was on the horizon for Weiss.
The Coffee
Today, with a focus on community, providing a consistent coffee experience for each customer, and sourcing goods from local Chicago farmers, Dollop Coffee Co has expanded into a coffee chain empire with multiple locations. While they are no Starbucks just yet, Dollop could continue to expand into the coffee shop world for many years to come.
Not only is their coffee just delicious, but they also serve some pretty great avocado toast, along with all their killer breakfast sandwiches! From their lattes, cappuccinos, and cold brew to their specialty drinks, Dollop is a great place to grab a drink to go or sit down and hang out for a while.
With a location right at the bottom of one of our Magellan neighbors, Gallery on Wells, we love supporting this local coffee chain, born and raised right here in beautiful Chicago. Follow them on Instagram (@dollopcoffeeco) to see the work behind this well-oiled machine.
The post Local Coffee Shop Spotlight: Dollop Coffee Co. appeared first on Aqua at Lakeshore East Blog.
