This week, Laura and Joelle are joined by Scott Martin owner of SVEA Restaurant at 5236 N. Clark and Simon’s Tavern at 5210 N. Clark. Since the Depression, Simon’s has anchored Clark Street just north of Foster and Scott has been an anchor of this community. His love for this neighborhood is effusive. You can see Scott walking his dog, greeting patrons at the restaurant and bar, waving hello off the rooftop connected to his apartment above Tilly’s or dressed up as a Viking multiple times a year, most famously during Midsommarfest.    

Scott Martin (right) in Transistor’s Studio C with podcast sound engineer Andy Miles.

“I’m lucky…I hope I never leave this neighborhood.”
– Scott Martin

Listen to Episode 39 with Scott!

Here are some references from Episode 39 that you may want to check out:

• Scott kicks us off during this episode throwing it back to his memories of skating at Rainbo Ice Arena on Clark Street and growing up in his mother’s house. His mother was a secretary at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. His favorite memory is riding the WGN float at nine-years old with Ray Rayner and Chauncey the Duck!
• SVEA means “Mother of Sweden.” The prior owner was Andersonville’s Kurt Mathiasson. Learn more about Kurt here. The restaurant has been called SVEA since the 1920s!

Scott inside of SVEA as shot for the 2018-19 Neighborhood Guide.

• Scott’s favorite menu item at SVEA is the pickled herring, but he also mentions Lutefisk as a choice during the holidays. While not a super popular fish, Lutefisk was soaked in water to preserve the fish in Viking days. He also details the lineup for The Viking Breakfast which includes Swedish sausage, eggs, potatoes, toast, and Swedish Pancakes, and mentions SVEA’s delicious cheeseburger, a Swedish Meatball pressed between the bun. 

“Our cheeseburgers rule!”
– Scott Martin

The speakeasy door in the basement of Simon’s Tavern.

• Simon’s was opened by Simon Lundberg in 1934. It’s the 4th oldest bar in Chicago and served as another meeting point for many of the parishioners of Ebenezer Lutheran. The basement of Simon’s is an old speakeasy! Scott talks about the door with the peephole in the basement. Check out a recent write-up on Simon’s in Umgås Magazine.

The wooden bar at Simon’s was built to look like that of a luxury ship’s.

• The wood bar in Simon’s was designed to look like the bar of a luxury ship, as many patrons of Simon’s in the early days would never have been able to afford a trip on the boat.
• Simon Lundburg also built a bank window (which you can still see today!) in Simon’s Tavern. Many people weren’t trusting of the banks post-recession, and Simon offered workers no fee when cashing their check, plus a free sandwich!

“I understood the privilege of owning the bar because it’s a really cool place, but the responsibility of owning this place has kept me sane.”
– Scott Martin

• Most of the time when you visit Simon’s, you’ll notice that Scott likes to play Turner Classic Movies on the TVs. Anything else is just bad art.
• The Swedish Glögg is a popular favorite, both hot and cold, at Simon’s! What’s in Glögg? Scott gives us a rundown on his ingredients, but he also talks about the tradition of wishing on the Pepparkakor cookie. Learn about the origins of Glögg here.

Tom and Scott Martin.

• Scott and his father, Tom Martin, were recently honored for their contributions to the community at this year’s Swedish American Museum gala.
• Many of the places that Scott wishes he could change places with for a day in Andersonville include the old delis Erikson’s and Wikstrom’s, and of course the old Swedish-owned bakeries. But in current day, he’d like to switch with Transistor (5224 N. Clark) and Calo Ristorante (5343 N. Clark).
• In reminiscing about old Andersonville businesses Scott mentions that where Little Bad Wolf (1541 W. Bryn Mawr) is now, used to be an archery bar! The Calo Theatre, where Brown Elephant (5404 N. Clark) is now, used to be a bowling alley. Scott also mentions the Sip & Straw as the go-to ice cream place, so he’s glad George’s Ice Cream & Sweets (5306 N. Clark) is here now at least!

Scott dressed in his Viking attire during the 2017 install of the replica Water Tower.

“I’ve had nothing but a blast.”
– Scott Martin

Visit Simon’s Tavern and SVEA Restaurant on the following platforms:
Facebook: SVEA | Simon’s Tavern 

This week, Laura and Joelle are joined by Amanda Norcross co-owner and shopkeeper of Norcross and Scott located at 1476 W. Berwyn. Inside the shop, you’ll find a an array of home goods, furniture and art including wire baskets from Bend Goods and slip cast porcelain objects by local artist and resident Laura Novy. Norcross and Scott also specializes in full service residential interior design, striving to create spaces which are well edited, thoughtfully designed, beautiful and functional. Visit Amanda and her team this week during Late Night Andersonville on December 7 and throughout the season.

(from left) Amanda Norcross with Joelle and Laura in Studio C of Transistor.

“The business owners in Andersonville approach their businesses with a level of passion and care and enthusiasm that resonates for us and makes us proud to be a member of this larger group of people doing very interesting things.”
– Amanda Norcross

Listen to Episode 38 with Amanda!

Here are some references from Episode 38 you may want to check out:

• Amanda is originally from Petoskey, Michigan on Traverse Bay. She went to undergraduate school for Arts History in Colorado, and then came to Chicago in 1998 for her Masters in Architectural Preservation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
• Norcross and Scott opened in 2015. Amanda remembers opening in March on a 70 degree day. The storefront is filled with new and unusual items that also have a level of singularity to them, making the items unique to Norcross and Scott and not easy to find elsewhere in Chicago. View the online shop here.

Amanda helps customers at the storefront during Small Business Saturday 2018.

• A big part of Norcross and Scott is their design arm. The first step to any new design relationship is meeting with the client in the space that is going to be reworked. With renovation, Amanda and her business partner Scott sit down with their draftswoman first to go over details. Check out featured design projects by Norcross and Scott.

Room designed by Norcross and Scott.

• So far, Amanda’s favorite project of 2018 was redesigning a space for an older couple in the Museum Campus park south of the City overlooking the lake and the Field Museum. Amanda and her team were able to purchase all new furniture, lighting, wallpaper and more.

A sneak peek of the bathroom at the work-in-progress at the “Museum Campus” home.

“What makes a dream project dreamy is when you have a client that trusts your vision and allows you to make suggestions that perhaps are outside their comfort zone.”
-Amanda Norcross

• Products by Bend Goods out of California have been some of the best sellers for Norcross and Scott since opening, and Amanda attributes this to the clean lines found in their designs.
• Amanda is inspired by product designers who are doing work on a very small scale, made by hand, and lasting for a lifetime. For example, Amanda references a lighting company called Allied Maker in New York. She also speaks to the furniture being created with wood and meta, and the work of Danish designer, Valentin Loellmann.
• Amanda and her family love to travel. She sometimes will take her daughter on work trips or to help at the Architectural Digest Design Show in NYC. She also spends a good amount of time cheering on her son at basketball games doing the “Dab” move (until her son told her not to!) and Joelle mentions the “Floss” dance. (If we lost you here, we provided some helpful links!)  
• Nocross and Scott’s social media, particularly their Instagram page, tries to show the different aspects of the job: design in progress, on location, and the storefront.
• If given the opportunity to trade places with another business in Andersonville, Amanda would switch with lead bartender Brian Riester from Vincent (1475 W. Balmoral) in order to know how to make delicious cocktails and how to make everyone happy after work!

Amanda and co-owner Scott Paterek.

“What is most fulfilling about our job is when we deliver something that alters people’s experience of their space. It has happened a couple of times, and it is magic. That is a good day that lasts a long long time.”
– Amanda Norcross

This week, Laura and Sara are joined by Lee Corrina Cano and Miguel Cano owners of The Coffee Studio located at 5628 N. Clark. The Coffee Studio is a modern, independent espresso bar focused on expertly crafting delicious drinks and their mission is to create authentic, warm, comfortable experiences that make high-quality coffees and teas more approachable and accessible for everyone.

Lee and Miguel in The Coffee Studio. Photo by Heidi Liddle.

“We love our neighborhood. We love our community. We love our store, our customers, our staff, and giving that up to try and open elsewhere has never been a priority for us.”
– Lee Corrina Cano

Listen to Episode 37 with Lee and Miguel!

Here are some references from Episode 27 that you may want to check out:

• Lee and Miguel meet in graduate school at the IIT Institute of Design. Both have a background in design, and while they originally opened a design business together, they were interested instead in creating a business that was “bigger than themselves.”
• Miguel grew up in Albany Park and his family owned an auto parts store, so he learned about small business operation from a young age.  
• Prior to The Coffee Studio’s inception, Lee was taking classes at The French Pastry School and anticipating opening a chocolate shop called “The Chocolate Experiment” in which customers could design their own bar; however, both Lee and Miguel were also exploring craft coffee in Chicago at this point. For research, they started visiting Intelligentsia Coffee to learn the process, and ultimately decided they could create their own gourmet coffee experience for Chicago.
• Lee and Miguel traveled to Seattle, Portland, and visited trade shows in preparation to opening. They immersed themselves in the “third wave of coffee,” and wanted to bring to Chicago high quality coffee without the high price tag.
• The Coffee Studio is designed to invite conversation at their counter; it was designed with lower counters and put the espresso machine on a stage. Good design is timeless and elegant. New customers walk into The Coffee Studio today and think the design looks as if it could have been built this year.
• The Coffee Studio has been open 11 years, but Lee and Miguel have lived in the neighborhood for 15 years. Where The Coffee Studio is now used to an abandoned laundromat. Even though The Coffee Studio celebrated 10 years last year, Lee still feels “like a scrappy startup.” The business is a constantly morphing organism. The menu has changed to include flatbreads, craft beers and wines, and craft coffee or tea cocktails. They also make their own ice cream at The Coffee Studio! View the full menu here.

One of The Coffee Studio’s made to order flatbreads.

• In 2009, The Coffee Studio received a nod from Time Out Chicago’s Eat Out Awards for the “Proof that Evolution Exists” category. This was proof, in a way, that Lee and Miguel were doing something with coffee that was on the forefront of third wave coffee in Chicago.
• Now, there are more independent coffee shops than ever in Chicago. There are also more chains, but now they look a little different. To maintain an “old school mom and pop shop” feel, Lee and Miguel hire locally and try to keep as much money circulating in the neighborhood as possible. For example, they treat their employees to gift cards from other neighborhood businesses for birthdays and anniversaries.

One of The Coffee Studio’s barista’s prepping a Nitro Caramel Latte for the 2018 Sweetish Stroll.

• Originally, Lee and Miguel imagined opening more than one location, but they reconsidered when thinking about only “growing for growth’s sake.” They want to make sure to keep The Coffee Studio at a sustainable size.
• Miguel continues to do design work from home, but enjoys stopping by The Coffee Studio for the community interaction. He loves seeing the regulars there on a daily basis.
• Lee appreciates how lucky they have been since opening with press opportunities and mentions a write-up in Bon Appetit Magazine in which they were named one of the Top 10 Boutique Coffee Shops in the country. Even recently, Food & Wine Magazine released Chef Iliana Regan’s Guide to Chicago, in which she mentions her love of The Coffee Studio. Writer Heidi Liddle captured the essence of The Coffee Studio in her recent essay as well. Read here.
• Miguel advises young entrepreneurs to still remain frugal while following their passions. Lee also encourages “understanding the math” behind the business. They have even coached their staff on how best to set a budget, save money, and think conservatively.  
• Both Lee and Miguel take their coffee black! But, The Coffee Studio does make their own syrups and sweet creations. “We want to meet people where they are.”  They will offer an excellent Cortado for the serious coffee drinks, but also offer a peppermint hot chocolate and other sweet creations for those with a different palette.
• If allowed to trade places with another Andersonville business for a day, Lee first mentions Gethsemane Garden Center (5739 N. Clark) to be surrounded by plants all day, but would ultimately pick Norcross and Scott (1476 W. Berwyn). Miguel would love to switch places with Little Bad Wolf (1541 W. Bryn Mawr) because he loves music and appreciates their edgy environment. Miguel’s top playlist song would be Led Zeppelin’s Ramble On, and he’s even added it to some of playlists at The Coffee Studio! The music there is rotated daily.

Then: Miguel and Lee prep Mocha Mouse for the 2008 Andersonville Dessert Crawl.

Now: Miguel and Lee outside of The Coffee Studio. Photo by Heidi Liddle.

Visit The Coffee Studio on these platforms:
Online: thecoffeestudio.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TheCoffeeStudioAndersonville
Instagram: @thecoffeestudio
Twitter: @thecoffeestudio

This week, we launch our holiday greetings from Andersonville! Plus, Laura, Sara, and Joelle do a roundup of all the great events this season, including this week’s Small Business Saturday and the return of the Holiday Trolley. View our Holiday Events calendar here.

Then, Laura and Joelle are joined by Tim Gillengerten, owner of Transit Tees, a Chicago themed merchandise store founded in 2001. With two locations in Wicker Park at 1371 N Milwaukee and here in Andersonville at 5226 N Clark, Transit Tees takes visuals from Chicago’s metropolitan landscapes and transforms them into fashionable artwork, clothing, magnets, housewares and more.

(from left) Shop keeper Chris and Tim at the front counter of Transit Tees Andersonville.

“The good thing is, I wake up everyday thinking about what I want to create, and what I want to make that day. I’m really excited to come to work every day.”
– Tim Gillengerten

Listen to Episode 36 with Tim Gillengerten!

Here are some references from Episode 36 that you may want to check out:

• Tim grew up in Michigan but has lived in Chicago for 35 years. He used to oversee the Kraft Foods account in the Midwest and worked downtown a lot, having to ride the train daily. After being involved with the corporate world for a significant portion of his career, Tim said he needed a little more creativity in his life. He left his design firm in 2000 and opened Transit Tees in Wicker Park in 2001.
• The first work of art Tim created involved combining all of the ‘inspected by’ labels from his travels over the years from various countries; he put them all together as a graphic on a t-shirt. The shirt was noticed by the Associate Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, who connected with Tim about selling it in the MCA store.

T-shirts in the Andersonville shop.

• His next project included a line of neighborhood tees, which used redesigned and re-structured CTA map logo decks as the shirt designs. This type of work eventually landed Transit Tees a contract with the CTA as their official manufacturer.  Transit Tees are available for purchase here.
• The Transit Tees store opened in Andersonville in July 2017. Prior, Transit Tees sold out of Andersonville Galleria (5247 N. Clark) and at local festivals like Midsommarfest. Tim recommends that if you have any products or art that you are looking to test out a market, places like street fests and the Galleria are perfect to refine product offerings.
• Tim and Transit Tees has been working in Andersonville for over 10 years in other capacities as well. They helped design logos for Cheetah Gym (5248 N.Clark), Anteprima (5316 N. Clark ),  m. Henry (5707 N. Clark ), and other signature Andersonville businesses.

Chris is captured making buttons during a visit to the shop.

• Tim’s favorite part about being the owner of a small locally-owned business is the everyday challenges he has to face. He loves the creative side of the business, but much of that work is delegated to other staff members. However, the is a huge reward in seeing his staff come up with an idea, and later sell the final product.
• Laura references Episode 24 of the podcast with Todd Mack and how his employees also take an active creative roll in the shop. Tim understands that their at a big advantage when it comes to young employees helping to cultivate the creative direction of the business.

Andersonville buttons available at Transit Tees.

• Tim estimates that 95% of what he sells in-store he and his staff have designed independently. Transit Tees also has printing presses, screen printing frames, sewing machines, button makers, and a vinyl cutting machine, allowing his team to craft 90% of the shop’s products in-house.

CTA magnets.

• Transit Tee’s most popular products are the square train station magnets; they make all 150 train stations on the CTA map. Tim estimates they sell up to a few thousand each month. The magnets are available for purchase in-store or online.
• Tim is also a huge fan of miniature or oversized graphics, and their CTA Loop graphic helped them even to land a feature with Apple’s marketing team!
• This year alone, Tim and his staff at Transit Tees worked at 15 different street festivals, including Andersonville’s own Midsommarfest
• Tim is excited about the upcoming One of a Kind Holiday Show at Merchandise Mart December 6-9. Including Transit Tees, he mentions that several Andersonville businesses are represented there.

Loop – The Elevated Card Game is now available for the holidays!

• In terms of new products, Tim is excited about recent t-shirts designs with Retro on Roscoe and work with the MCA. They also just released the brand new Loop – The Elevated Card Game, which is featured in our Andersonville Gifts Guide – For the Kid & Kid at Heart.
• If given the chance, Tim would switch places with Andersonville Galleria for the day because he admires the space and how many artists they are able to bring together.  

“I want to thank Andersonville Chamber of Commerce for welcoming us to the neighborhood, working with us, helping us in our first year. In general, the whole neighborhood has been amazing”
– Tim Gillengerten

Visit Transit Tees on these platforms:
Online: transittees.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TransitTees
Instagram: @TransitTees