Big Shoulders Coffee to Ride a Jolt of Expansion With Three New Locations

Big Shoulders Coffee is broadening its operations. The coffee shop, which debuted five years ago in River West, is adding three new locations, reported the Tribune. They’re coming to The Loop at 215 W. Lake Street and opening a pair of kiosks as part of the Midway International Airport improvements.

The shops should open later this year. Their roastery, at the intersection of Milwaukee and Chicago, is in the back of their first shop at 1105 W. Chicago Avenue. There’s a second Big Shoulders run by LM Restaurant Group inside the Hotel Felix in River North. A second roastery is located in the West Loop at 1948 W. Lake Street. The Loop location is inside LINEA, a 265-unit apartment tower.

Founder Tim Coonan is a former chef, working in Chicago, France, and New York. He also ran restaurants in Michigan, and has teaching experience at Washburne Culinary Institute and the French Pastry School. Perhaps he can do for coffee what Jared Rouben has done for beer with his cheffy brews at Moody Tongue Brewing Co. in Pilsen.