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A Mexican cafe chain has arrived in Chicago with its first location that gives Division Street in Wicker Park yet another choice for coffee. For now, customers can only order takeout from La Borra Del Cafe — they won’t be able to linger inside the modern space and check out the stacks of books from Latinx authors on the bookcases. The menu includes toasts and a few Mexican pastries like conchas and orejitas, as well as frappes, Mexican hot chocolate, and coffee.
La Borra Del Cafe debuted eight years ago in Mexico and has expanded to more than 65 locations there and in America. The company is pursuing an aggressive expansion with plans for 200 locations in California. Last year, a location opened in suburban Berwyn. The Wicker Park location opened on Friday, November 27 at 1700 W. Division Street,
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On Division Street, the cafe has made good use of the former Buck’s/Carriage House space. They’ve lightened the space for the mornings using the same design aesthetics as the chain employs at other locations. The bar’s been replaced with a counter for orders. Once the pandemic subsides, laptoppers will have plenty of space with a variety of seating options. There’s plush chairs, counter seating by the windows, and couches. The space also has a conference space in the back.
Workers there say the cafe opens at 6 a.m. That’s a big deal for those looking for coffee early in the morning in pandemic times with cafes rolling back hours do to stay-at-home orders affecting business. There’s still plenty of caffeine competition nearby with Intelligentsia, Tour Les Jour, and Caffe Streets. A Division Street location of Foxtrot — one of the many bodega-like places in Chicago that stock Diet Coke, paper towels, and Peanut Butter M&Ms — also has an espresso bar.
The cafe’s name, as Block Club Chicago points out, comes from a book by Uruguayan author Mario Benedetti.
La Borra Del Cafe, 1700 W. Division Street, open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for carryout, online ordering available via third parties.
