Glencoe Board Denies Request to Sell Coffee at Depot

The Glencoe Board of Trustees denied a request by Glencoe Roast Coffee to add a mobile coffee cart to the Metra train depot, yielding to public commenters who were opposed to change of any kind to the historic 1891 station.

“It's the only place in Glencoe where we can go and get a taste of the Glencoe of the 1890s,” said Susan Solway, a DePaul University professor in the deparment of art and architecture history.

“We have a pristine, clean station now and that can be changed very quickly,” said Glencoe resident Jim De Witt, speaking in opposition to coffee and pastry sales at the depot. “I think we're going to end up with crumbs, napkins and pigeon poop — that's my vision of the future.”

The Glencoe Board of Trustees first took up the idea of a coffee cart at its December meeting upon the request of representatives of Glencoe Roast Coffee, which hoped to expand operations down Park Avenue. At the time, none of the trustees spoke out against the cart, and the discussion centered on the need to not show preference to Glencoe Roast or any other business.

In order to install a cart, a change was needed to the zoning code because the depot is zoned residential like everything else east of the railroad tracks. The zoning board early in the month recommended adding coffee to the list of exceptions, such as train tickets and newspapers, which are currently sold at the station.

But at the April meeting Thursday night, Trustee Joe Keefe made a motion to allow the cart, and it died without a second vote. Eleven community members spoke out at the meeting, four in support of the cart and seven against the necessary zone change.

“I don't think it's an exciting business venture,” said Trustee Joel Solomon. “I'm not so sure it's something Glencoe needs.”

Trustee Bruce Cowans said he supported the cart with reservations, but he became concerned after his daughter, a New Trier High School student, told him that students commuting from Glencoe to Indian Hill would have little room to stand with a coffee cart in the way. “I'm concerned about pushing people outside in the cold,” Cowans said.

Trustee Keefe said he didn't understand why the station was not zoned commercial in the first place. “It seems that the station was built for a commercial exchange of a service,” Keefe said. He also noted that the village should promote train travel for environmental reasons. “If it's a convenience that gets even one person to take the train, it's worth it.”

“I think the train station is for the convenience of the commuters,” said Glencoe resident Ross Firestone, who supported coffee sales at the station.

Yolanda Kowalski, the owner of Glencoe Roast Coffee, could not attend the meeting as she was working at the shop. But she said Friday morning that she was not completely surprised it didn't pass. “There was very strong opposition to the cart from the east side of the tracks,” Kowalski said. “We tried, what can I say?”