DMK Restaurants Plan New Coffee Shop With Wonder Bread Truck Near Elston Corridor

DMK Restaurants have their sights set on opening a coffee shop in an emerging area near Lincoln Park. The Elston Corridor was formerly home to industrial businesses like Finkl Steel, but now it’s home to other types of businesses—including Local Foods, Cocktail Courier, plus many Cross-Fit bros—as development takes hold on the stretch of Elston between Ashland and North avenues. That’s where DMK plans to open Werewolf Café at 1765 N. Elston Ave.

The restaurant group—known for DMK Burger Bar, Fish Bar, Henry’s and MK The Restaurant—declined to comment on their new coffee shop. The group, helmed by acclaimed chefs Michael Kornick and David Morton, placed two jobs ads searching for a barista. The ads claim Werewolf will open sometime in March.

Ashok Selvam

The posts also reveal a little bit about the shop. For one, they’ve taken an old Wonder Bread truck and converted it into a barista station. The headlights are set on timers and were switched on Wednesday night. There’s no signage yet, only a mention in the building’s directory.

“Werewolf will serve small batch and artisan coffees alongside draft kombucha, cold brew, teas, snacks, and local pastries,” one ad read.

Ashok Selvam

DMK isn’t new to the corridor, as the group opened acclaimed restaurant Ada Street five years ago, which is a four-minute walk from the Werewolf site. The location may provide opportunity for synergy between the two spots. No mention of the Elston Corridor would be complete without The Hideout, the legendary dive that’s kept counterculture and music alive since 1934.

Stay tuned for more on DMK’s first foray into the world of coffee.