Domani Cafe in Downtown Elgin
Cuban coffee I enjoyed earlier this year in Miami's Little Havana (Photo by The Elginite).
A new cafe has opened in downtown Elgin at the corner of Highland Avenue, across from the Civic Center (where the previous tenant was Let’s Meet for Coffee).
Leo Urdaneta…left his job as social studies teacher at Kimball Middle School in Elgin Area School District U-46 last month to purse his next dream.
“My first dream was to own a home,” said Urdaneta, who lives in a house on Elgin’s west side with his wife, Migdalia and two daughters, Miranda, 7, and Bianca, 6. “My second dream was to have my own shop and business. I love coffee. The first thing I have in the morning is a good cup of coffee.” (Daily Herald)
Domani Cafe only has daytime hours and are closed on Sundays. The menu features paninis and Cuban sandwiches. I hope that means they have Cuban coffee too :)
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I hope this one makes it. That spot is very convenient for getting coffee when picking up mail at the post office. But, it’s maybe the fourth coffee shop there, and the previous three didn’t stick.
I forgot to stop by when I was in downtown today.
As for the location, it may be convenient for those picking up mail or who have offices across the street, but I would prefer a quieter place with easier parking.
The funny thing about coffee is that convenience is really of paramount importance, because so many people just go in there, grab a coffee and leave. That’s why those coffee huts out in Seattle work so well. You can basically drive right up next to the hut, park or if it’s a drive through–which is often the case, you just get your coffee and drive away. There’s actually a coffee hut in Davenport, Iowa. I haven’t noticed anything closer to us, but it seems like a good concept.
It’s one reason that Starbucks and Caribou do well. Many of these actually have drive-through windows, and even those that don’t are located in strip malls (in suburban areas), where there is parking right in front of the store. People pull up, get out, get their coffee and leave.
It’s a lot harder to do that if you have to figure out how to navigate a one-way street, park somewhere across the street, wait for a pedestrian crossing signal, etc.
Just a few thoughts on why that may not be the best location if they are targeting people who just want to grab a coffee, but I do hope they are successful.
I stopped by on Saturday morning, and the coffee was pretty good. Seemed to be a fair amount of foot traffic too.
By the way, there are parking spots near the front of the store, but only one or two. Or were last time I checked. I don’t drive much, what with my walking to the train.
Thanks for the report, Kevin. Did you notice whether they serve cuban coffee or not?
I hope so too Kevin, I’m the owner and I am doing my best to make myself to be “the coffee shop” in Downtown Elgin”.
There is a drive-up hut like that in Naperville on Ogden, or at least there used to be. They sold cigarettes. Actually, maybe they only sold cigarettes and not coffee, now that I think of it.
That is so Naperville to be having cigarette huts! What next, liquor huts?
:)
Yes, I have Bustelo Cuban coffee, if you ask me for one I will make you the best Cuban coffee there is in town.
Best of luck to you Leo. I can’t wait to try your Cuban coffee!
I had time to kill waiting for the train last week, so I stopped by here for coffee and it was great. The owner was very friendly. Definitely check it out if you haven’t already done so. I need to go back and try out their lunch menu.
Was there the other day. delicious coffee and outstanding cuban sandwich. Great owner. this is the kind of neighborhood place we as elginites want to stick around. see for yourself.
why dont you sell cuban cigars too. is thi a cuban coffee shop?
I stopped by once because I was hungry and just wanted to see what they had, and absolutely LOVED their Sandwiches. (turkey is my favorite) Anyway, what’s important is that the atmosphere is just right which makes you feel welcome and the owner is always helpful and friendly.
I haven’t tasted their coffee yet but will definetely have their mocha once the weather starts getting colder.
dear elgin, please ban all of your citizens from opening another taqueria, barbershop, and coffee house. We have enough already. Please invite more interesting shops to open in your downtown areas and we will love to give you our business.
thank you.
elgin lover.
Elgin Lover,
There is only one other coffee house so I don’t think the market is saturated. What is important is that you would be hard pressed in this community or others to find a real Cuban sandwich and this one is good. I don’t think of this as a coffee shop. It is more of a cafe. I am pleased to have them here. It could be worse. What if it were a mediocre coffee house serving lousy sandwiches? I will agree that there are quite a bit of taquerias though. Leave that to the free market to decide who survives. I think Los Comales is the best.
I will have to try Los Comales. I haven’t really found a stand out tacqueria yet. Hope that Los Comales will be the one!
Don’t tell anybody but what I’d really like is a taco truck :)
El Cokito on Villa was pretty great, but the last few months they have cut their menu down and I’ve pretty much stopped going.
This sounds pretty dumb. How can the city control which business opens up? Isn’t that what the whole point of Free Market is? If there’s too many taquerias or coffe shops, economics will bring it down.
-Also, an Elgin Lover
A city controls businesses by providing or withdrawing incentives (i.e., higher taxes or tax breaks).
Limits on the number or type of businesses can be achieved through managing the number of permits which can be awarded. This can be controlled by ordinance (e.g., the city will issue X number of permits to the same type of business in an Y square foot area). Other means are also avaialble.
stop haiting on new business owners. IF you are that smart why dont you open something different.
The sandwiches are yummy! The interior was charming & friendly as is the owner. Parking was easy, just parked in the downtown lot near the post office and walked across the street. Seemed like all kinds of business people were walking from their offices for lunch.
It is always fun to find a new place to enjoy a hot cup of gourmet coffee and visit with friends.
It seems a lot of these smaller boutique coffee shops come and go, and just when I get to like them!