Customers enjoy Filter coffee shop in Wicker Park, Friday February 5, 2010, which has opened a new, LEED-Certified store down the block from its original home.
José Moré/Chicago News Cooperative
Two years ago, when the grungy Wicker Park icon Filter Cafe was ousted from its prime location in the Flat Iron Arts Building by a bank, its clientele was forced to seek other venues in which to lounge while drinking the occasional cup of coffee.
Late last month, much to the carefully modulated delight of its regulars, Filter returned to the neighborhood, opening a more environmentally-friendly space on Milwaukee Avenue, near its former location. While some things have been updated in the name of LEED certification — the bar is made from reclaimed barn wood and the floors are covered in roofing slate — much remains the same.
Whether that is good news or bad depends largely on your tolerance for skinny jeans and disinterested service.
So happy to see Filter back on the scene in Wicker Park! Even better the food has improved and they are probably one of the only LEED cafes in town. I found some cool information on the design here http://strawville.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/wicker-park-elevated-back-to-bohemian-status