Bean Bar seeks City funding to revive long-vacant Ravinia property

An empty building in Ravinia’s business district could soon see new life as Bean Bar works toward opening by next summer. 

To help complete the redevelopment, including exterior improvements and a new patio, at 565 Roger Williams Ave in Highland Park, Bean Bar went before the City Council on Monday, July 13, in support of their request for financial assistance.

If approved by the council, Bean Bar would receive $100,000 through a City grant program that typically provides just $20,000 per year. The business, however, then could not seek the grant funds for a five-year period.

Bean Bar is a full-service restaurant founded in Northbrook in 2025. Highland Park would be the second location for the concept, which is an all-in-one community centered cafe and lounge serving breakfast, lunch, coffee and baked goods. Bean Bar also offers co-working in the daytime and dinner and handcrafted cocktails in the evening. 

Kadir and Serah Cicek own Bean Bar, as well as Eataco, which is also planning a location in Highland Park’s Ravinia district and seeking a $20,000 grant for exterior upgrades to 597 Roger Williams Ave. 

Bean Bar has replaced another restaurant concept for 565 Roger Williams Drive that was pitched by the Community Restaurant Group in late 2024. That project also earned grant funds for site improvements, but it fell through, improvement never began and, thus, the funds were not administered.

The proposed exterior to Bean Bar features outdoor seating, signage and lights, and the proposed patio includes lounge seating, communal and cafe tables, and an at-home seating style. 

The building at 565 Roger Williams has been vacant for at least a decade, according to the City, and Bean Bar is seeking grant funding due to “significant investment that’s necessary for the property,” City Manager Ghida Neukirch said. 

Funding would come in addition to the food and beverage grant and exterior improvement grant that the City already approved for Bean Bar. 

“We are suggesting consideration of using the exterior improvement grant fund for Bean Bar, which is a matching grant of $20,000 per year,” Neukirch said. 

Businesses can apply to the incentive grant program every year, but the City is making an exception for Bean Bar by recommending “pooling five years worth of funds” and allowing Bean Bar to “take advantage of $100,000,” given that they are investing approximately $1.5 million into the property, Neukirch said. 

Councilmember Annette Lidawer said the exception is unusual, but she feels good about the business.

“Offering $100,000, instead of the typical $20,000 we give per year, is a very special situation,” Lidawer said. “It’s someone who’s met our criteria on so many other levels for the interior portion and will be doing so much exterior work – that’s why we want to make this very, very unusual request.” 

If supported by the council, Bean Bar would be ineligible for taking advantage of subsequent exterior improvement grants for the five years following. 

The forecasted first-year revenue for Bean Bar is more than $3 million, and the estimated exterior buildout investment is $300,000. 

Neukirch thinks the arrangement with Bean Bar will work as a similar concept was presented for this area and “there was majority support to move forward,” she said. 

Neukirach has “no concerns” about the proposal and plans on an agreement being ready for consideration during the next City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 17.

“We think it would be a great addition to Ravinia’s business district and to the community overall,” Neukirch said. 

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