Last chance to feed the monkey at noFriction

January 23, 2:20 PMLogan Square ExaminerLynn Stevens

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noFriction Café

Not quite cold turkey, but you only have a couple of days to go through withdrawal or find the source of your next fix.  This Sunday, January 25, is your last chance to get your noFriction addiction at noFriction Café.  They're closing up shop.

In contrast to it's name, NoFriction seems to have had its share since 2002:  change of ownership; change of location from the corner of California Ave. and Altgeld St. to the present 2023 N. California Ave. location; and repeated customer service issues.

I don't know why they moved from the original spot.  Some might speculate that they couldn't compete with Starbucks, but contrary to popular (and intuitive) belief, Starbucks often helps mom and pop coffehouses.  I think a case can be made that Starbucks helped that stretch of California Ave. south of Logan Blvd. become Logan Square's little restaurant row.  Though too, it probably helped property owners charge higher rents.

I don't know why they're closing now, and unfortunately a phone call to confirm the closing was met with another unfriendly staffer.  It could be the poor customer service; it could be that it closes at 4:00 p.m. each day before most of the neighborhood residents have a chance to patronize it; or it could be the economy.

I will, though, miss their hot seasonal cider.  I'll definitely now have to try the hot cider at the new New Wave Coffee (which I briefly wrote about over at Peopling Places).