Kafein Closed Temporarily, Under New Ownership

The coffee shop Kafein, a fixture on Chicago Avenue for years, recently changed hands and is temporarily closed for renovation, according to new owner Kelly O'Leary.

O'Leary said she bought the cafe at 1621 Chicago Ave. on March 1, and told Patch it is closed while workers correct some electrical issues. Asked when it would be back in business, she said she could not give an exact answer, since she was waiting for Evanston officials to come out to check whether the property met city standards before she could reopen.

"My focus is getting this place back to where it needs to be," she said.

When the coffee shop reopens, O'Leary said it would still be called Kafein. Asked what it would look like inside, she told Patch, "I'm not really at liberty to answer that."

O'Leary declined to answer further questions.