Bad Wolf Coffee, Bakery Opening on Lincoln

With a Starbucks, Caribou Coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts all surrounding the Paulina Brown Line Station, one man is aiming to break the mold by opening a locally owned coffee shop and bakery on Lincoln.

Bad Wolf Coffee is on track to hopefully open its doors in the next month at 3422 N. Lincoln Ave., less than one block north of the “L” station where Paulina and Roscoe streets meet Lincoln.

Owner Jonathan Ory, of the now shuttered Wicker Park restaurant Schwa, says Bad Wolf will be more than a typical café with coffee treats. He plans to also use the space as a bakery where everything is prepared and baked in house.

“It will just be baked goods, coffee and tea, but we hope to be doing all three better than most,” Ory said when asked about the menu. “… We’ll be serving pastries baked in house, rustic obscurities and classics with a bit of a spin.”

Ory says Bad Wolf will have Counter Culture Coffee, a brand focused on sustainability. That’s combined with plans for Rishi Tea.

The new store is a move in the right direction not only for Ory, but also for Lincoln Avenue. The Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Special Service Area 27 executive board to help breathe life back into the commercial corridor.

In March the team was starting to form a comprehensive plan intended to be a robust extension of the Lakeview Area Master Plan. It’s to be presented to Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) when completed.

Bad Wolf Coffee is slated for a rough inspection from the building department next week, followed by a final building inspection, Department of Housing inspection and cosmetic fix-ups. Ory says he’s hopeful the business will be open next month.