Acclaimed Local Coffee Chain Dark Matter Unleashes a Cold Brew Bodega in West Town

One of Chicago’s most famous coffee makers, Dark Matter Coffee, opened a new West Town coffee shop Wednesday morning. Chocolate City Coffee Palace and Bodega, 2015 W. Grand Avenue, doesn’t have any seating or espresso. It’s intended to be a celebration of Dark Matter’s cold brew options including its ever-popular Chocolate City drink rather than a place to plug in a laptop and connect to WiFi. The newest of Dark Matter’s five cafes, Chocolate City also has hot coffee while focusing on exclusive cold drinks on draft like Mayan mocha and nitro single-origin coffee.

The bodega component is unique to Dark Matter, which has locations in West Town, Lakeview, and even one inside the United Center arena on the Near West Side. Chocolate City has a selection of items from companies across Chicago. Local items include Co-Op hot sauce, novelties from Pretty Cool Ice Cream, chips and shrub sodas from Marz Community Brewing (no beer, they lack a liquor license), and cheese from Modern Artisan Cheese Company.

Dark Matter Coffee [Official Photo]

Dark Matter Coffee [Official Photo]

It also has vegan items from nearby Upton’s and customers can bring howlers full of coffee home. Dark Matter supports local artists and customers can buy items from Rotofugi, Shawnimals, and skin-care products from Scratch Goods.

Dark Matter’s Kyle Hodges said that the space is a grab and go and that they’re also selling “products that have direct Dark Matter Coffee partnerships or are from friends of ours around the globe.”

Check out the menu below. Dark Matter’s latest location is now open.

Chocolate City Coffee Palace and Bodega, 2015 W. Grand Avenue, open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

DMC_ChocolateCity_handMenu.pdf