I had the delight of meeting Amber Saleh and her partner at the July 2026 meeting of the Southwest Chamber of Commerce , when she filled me in on some details for their planned 773 COFFEE spot under development on the northeast corner of South Wood and West 35th streets at 1758 W. 35th St., Chicago.

Social media announcements confirm their receipt of a City of Chicago Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program grant, designed to provide capital support for filling vacant streetside storefronts.

Businesses in the McKinley Park neighborhood are eligible in the commercial strip on West 35th Street between South Ashland Avenue and South Leavitt Street, and on South Archer Avenue from South Damen Avenue to South Leavitt Street.



773 COFFEE said they planned to open in 2027.

McKinley Park’s 35th Street corridor received three other grants in the first round of the storefront activation program, including:

• The former Pochos space on West 35th Street and South Seeley Avenue at 2025 W. 35th St.
   
• The building tucked into the alley at 2030 W.  35th St. behind Chile Toreado
   
• The Miller Properties-owned building at 1734 W. 35th St., home to the upcoming Taquero tanqueria, set to open later this month.