Several businesses would be displaced as Starbucks plans at Belmont-Austin could move forward

by CYRYL JAKUBOWSKI and BRIAN NADIG

A controversial plan to build a Starbucks with a drive-through at the northwest corner of Belmont and Austin avenues, across from Saint Patrick High School, could be moving forward in the approval process more than a year after it was proposed.

Several longtime businesses would be displaced if the project comes to fruition.

The Zoning Board of Appeals set a public hearing on the proposal for the 9 a.m. session of its meeting on Friday, Nov. 15, in Room 1003 A at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. The board, which acts independently of the Chicago City Council, would have to approve a special use for the drive-through before construction permits could be issued.

It is not clear if the project has undergone any significant changes since when the plans were proposed in 2023. At that time plans called for the demolition of several storefronts, where currently the Kyokushin Karate “Kanku” Dojo at 6022 W. Belmont Ave., Wiklanski’s Bakery, 6006 W. Belmont Ave., a Polish gift shop and other businesses are located.

Trendy Topics, which was located at the corner of the intersection, moved last year to 5545 W. Belmont Ave. It was reported last year that several of these businesses have a month-to-month lease.

Also on the block is the Chicago 21 Club, 6020 W. Belmont Ave. that has been closed for decades. The Smashing Pumpkins reportedly played their very first show there on July 9, 1988.

“Nobody told me anything. As far as I am concerned I thought that the entire project was dead,” said Kanku owner Leszek Samitowski. Samitowski said that he would get in contact with other tenants on the block and the landlord. The property was sold in 2023 to GMX Rega OC LLC, for reportedly close to $750,000. A public notice was posted on the property recently.

Waclaw Wiklanski, owner of the Wiklanski Bakery, echoed a similar sentiment.

He said nobody let him know about the zoning plans and he just saw a public notice that was posted on one of the buildings. Wiklanski said that opposition would be voiced at the ZBA meeting in order to “try to slow things down.”

“Well, they won’t let everybody in Downtown (to the ZBA meeting),” Wiklanski said. He said a letter of opposition would be presented.

Another source familiar with the situation who wanted to stay anonymous said that it was just a matter of time before the Starbucks is built.

“The writing is on the wall. They will just keep coming back to this until everything gets torn down and the Starbucks is built,” the source said.

At a 2023 community meeting hosted by Alderwoman Ruth Cruz (30th), concerns were raised about the potential displacement of the existing businesses on the block. An audience member who supported the project said that there were 11 empty storefronts within two blocks of the site, allowing for ample relocation possibilities.

An aide to Cruz reported at the meeting that the ward office was receiving calls and e-mails both in favor and against the project.

Cruz’s office did not return messages before deadline seeking more information about the project.

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