We’re thrilled to call Chicago home and to have a place among the city’s diverse and culturally rich community, strong designers and artists, unique architectural wonders, and electric culinary scene. Chicago has long been on our radar as an ideal place to share our coffee and we’re pleased to announce that our new cafe in Wolf Point opens July 12. Here’s a little bit of what we have going on.

Collaboration with Cody Hudson

Chicago designer Cody Hudson is known in the windy city for his bold, colorful graphics that borrow equally from urban modernism and organic forms. His work spans large-scale public art installations (there’s one in Wolf Point!); various media, from screenprints for indie rock bands to paintings and sculpture; and partnerships with independent businesses and global brands. We invited Cody to collaborate with us to create custom artworks and designed objects for our partnership. In anticipation of the cafe opening, he meditated on the shapes of the iconic Blue Bottle tools and created abstracted forms which then became the design elements of the awesome, larger-than-life installation outside of the Wolf Point storefront, the wild wheat-pasted posters posted up around town, our in-store coasters, and a limited-edition version of our MiiR Commuter Cup. Thanks to Cody, we were able to announce our new cafe in a big way.

Cody Hudson is the creative director of Struggle Inc. Read more about the design studio here.

Partnership with Hyde Park Art Center

In celebration of our Chicago opening, we’re re-releasing Neighbor, one of our all-time favorite coffee blends. Neighbor Blend supports specific unique and inspiring local organizations that share our values. Art, design, and community have always been crucial to us, so in honor of the launch of our first Chicago cafe, and in support of all the fantastic work that they do to foster the future of a diverse range of Chicago artists, the Hyde Park Art Center will receive a portion of the proceeds from each bag of Neighbor Blend.

Hyde Park Art Center offers artists, particularly women and people of color, the resources to dream big with minimal constraints, inviting site-responsive works and encouraging experimentation. By doing so, HPAC aims to launch careers, inspire other artists, and facilitate conversations about sustainable practices and equity in the field. Since 1939, they’ve been at the forefront of contemporary art in Chicago, fostering generations of makers. Taught by teaching artists and visiting professionals, the center serves over 2,000 students a year. We’re excited to have art made by working Chicago artists and teachers displayed in our Wolf Point Curio, located inside the seating area of the cafe.

Textiles from The Weaving Mill

Chicago artist-run industrial weaving studio The Weaving Mill has also collaborated with us, resulting in a series of unique textiles for Blue Bottle guests. We’ve worked together to create limited-edition versions of The Weaving Mill’s iconic items (a tote bag, picnic blanket, and placemats) using a combination of their signature green and tan colorway with blues inspired by our color story. Each item is woven with sustainability in mind, using deadstock poly-cotton and acrylic yarns, the organic lengths of which determine the exact striping pattern of the blanket. We love the spirit and improvisation behind these designs, made for sharing food and drink with friends and family.

An artist-run weaving studio in Chicago led by Emily Winter, The Weaving Mill designs and creates textiles in collaboration with other artists and designers, in addition to providing textile education workshops for adults with developmental disabilities and hosting an experimental artist residency program.

Hello, Chicago