Sparrow Coffee Opens in Clarendon Hills: A Community-Centric Café

Approximately three years ago, anticipation grew as plans emerged for Sparrow Coffee to open in downtown Clarendon Hills. This new establishment took over the former Starbucks location at 100 Park Ave. Chris Chacko, who founded Sparrow Coffee in 2012, originally catered to high-end and Michelin-starred restaurants before launching his first café in Naperville in January 2018.

The new Clarendon Hills café welcomed guests for the first time on Wednesday, October 21. Chacko began considering this location in 2023 after learning about the Starbucks closure. He expressed his connection to the neighborhood by saying, “My family lives in the area, and we have been touched by the warmth and kindness of this community. We wanted to introduce a world-class coffee shop with exceptional food that served this community with the respect it deserved.”

Chacko has a strong belief that offering high-quality products at reasonable prices will show customers the difference. “Success comes after they tell their family and friends to visit,” he stated. “It is our hope that we will draw people from surrounding communities, and other local businesses will do better because of our presence.”

Chacko’s vision for the space included creating an atmosphere that handled volume but also provided diverse seating options, with a focus on family gatherings and conversation. Sparrow initially opens from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily, with goals to extend to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., based on community needs.

In the upcoming weeks, Chacko plans to broaden Sparrow’s menu to include more coffee options, non-alcoholic beverages, lunch items, and specialties from accomplished chefs. When Sparrow opened, it not only filled the former Starbucks area but also expanded into spaces previously occupied by Little Creperie and State Farm Insurance.

Clarendon Hills resident Karen Deane expressed satisfaction, saying, “I was looking forward to Sparrow opening. I missed having a place in town to meet up with people. I do drink coffee, though mostly at home. Having a meeting place was what I missed most, and Sparrow is ideal.” She appreciated the increased seating compared to the prior Starbucks.

Another resident, Kristie Wester, shared her excitement about Sparrow’s opening, remarking, “It’s hard to believe it’s finally open, but it was definitely worth the wait. The coffee is really good, and I got my husband breakfast sandwiches, which he said were very good.”

Village President Eric Tech recognized the significance of Sparrow Coffee’s choice to settle in Clarendon Hills. “Their decision to locate and invest here demonstrates that our community is willing to invest in its future, rather than accept the status quo.” He believes Sparrow will become a leading coffee shop and a regional destination.