Lost Larson Will Bring Its Scrumptious Cardamom Buns to Wicker Park

A second location of Lost Larson is coming to Wicker Park as owner Bobby Schaffer aims to debut his third location on Saturday, December 19 at 2140 W. Division Street inside the former Purple Llama record store and coffeeshop. The bakery will bring Wicker Park the same breads, pastries, and coffees served in Andersonville and at Lost Larson’s stall at Time Out Market Chicago.

Schaffer, pastry chef with a fine dining pedigree (Grace, Blue Hill at Stone Barns), opened his first bakery two years ago in Andersonville. The expansion is welcome news for the legions of fans that trek to Clark Street on weekends to stand in line for habit-forming cardamom buns, loaves of fragrant limpa, and smørrebrød (Danish open-face sandwiches). Schaffer has grown the business from bakery into a cafe, even serving dinner on select nights. Schaffer’s sister Bree, formerly of Stumptown Coffee, handles the drinks with coffee, tea, and espresso.

AGN Design [Official Rendering]

The new Lost Larson outpost riffs on many of the design elements seen in the Andersonville original, which sports an Instagram-friendly Danish aesthetic that is at once sleek, modern, and inviting. Chicago firm AGN Design created a color scheme that plays on Schaffer’s contemporary Princess Cake, with green marzipan venetian plaster and painted white brick on the walls, integrating light wood and round pendant lights that hang from the ceiling. Built-in shelves line the walls beside a large, geometric counter and glass pastry case. Indoor seating will be scattered throughout various cozy corners, and there are plans for an outdoor patio. Purple Llama closed in April after three years in Wicker Park.

The Clark Street spot made a splash when it opened in 2018, due to both its owner’s high-profile resume and location: Schaffer was the opening pastry chef at three-Michelin star restaurant Grace. He’s also worked in Spain and at Upstate New York’s famed Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

AGN Design [Official Rendering]

Schaffer operated stall at Time Out Market Chicago, the massive Fulton Market food hall that is temporarily closed during the pandemic and its status is uncertain. Meanwhile, stay tuned for more details on Lost Larson’s upcoming Wicker Park cafe.

Lost Larson Wicker Park, 2140 W. Division Street, Slated to open Saturday, December 19.