By: Deedee El bego
Street view of Move Along Coffee, featuring their illustration done by “Burrito Breath” (Deedee El bego/CLASSICCHICAGO)
Move Along Coffee, owned by brothers Ian and Isaac Holmes, is located at 1223 W Grand Ave. in the West Loop of Chicago. The coffee shop serves as dual space with a grab-n-go window for coffee in the front and Isaac Holmes’ Handcrafted Barbershop in the back. Since opening the coffee shop in 2022 they have received a huge welcome from the neighborhood as well as support from the other businesses next door and across the street. While the shop only offers grab-n-go it doesn’t stop Ian and his employees from making a meaningful connection with every person that stops by. This has worked in their favor in ways Ian says he never would have expected.
“We just surpassed three years two days ago. It’s kind of crazy that in that short amount of time we have seen regulars that bought a house, got engaged, got married, and now they’re bringing their kid by. It’s crazy how quick life moves and it’s neat having these check-in points where I would be wrapped up in something else if it weren’t for having this window to talk to people through. It’s nice seeing life exist around here and becoming a part of it.”
Ian highlights that being a part of people’s lives and just offering solidarity to whatever they’re going through has been intentional from the start.
“Recently one of my customers’ mom was being deported, and letting him know that if he ever needed anything is just human decency to me. His response was very touching, and he’s come back a few different times and updated me on the status of things. It’s like I have a little peek into this person’s life and I was able to help him in a rough day he was having just by asking how his day was going and having a normal conversation. I don’t think that’s something that happens all the time and it costs nothing to do. It’s very easy to guide the goals of the shop in that direction and I really enjoy that component of it,” Ian said.
The idea for the coffee shop came to Ian during COVID. His work in photography and design had slowed down and he took that as an opportunity to open up Move Along Coffee. The location had previously been a coffee shop called The Sip House, which was owned by Nancy Angelopoulous who opened the shop in 1999 and closed in 2019. The Sip House was a large staple for the West Loop community during the 20 years it was open. The area is a lot more residential now than it was seven years ago which means there’s also an increase in foot traffic.
“Personally where I live, I really value the coffee shops nearby, so being able to reintroduce that back in the neighborhood is really nice,” Ian says.
“Being a neighborhood spot is something that I really wanted to do, and it’s nice being quiet on social media and letting people find us or be told about us,” He added.
To celebrate their 3-year anniversary, Move Along Coffee is going to offer $3 coffees.
“It will cover the cost of the items and give a lot of people a break financially to splurge a little bit, and they’ll be able to try stuff they might not have tried before,” Ian says.
“Our main things are consistency, quality, and the warmth of a conversation. I feel like coffee can be kind of gatekeepy, where if you don’t know what a certain drink is or if you’re not sure, you might be intimidated by the person behind the counter, and spend way too much money on something that you’re not going to like. And so I really like offering people samples of stuff or finding out what they normally do like.”
Ian highlights that they want genuine connection with their customers because it’s truly about karma.
“I always tell my employees to be outgoing and kind even when they’re having a bad day because it will always come back to them.” This was proven when a regular stopped by to drop off a bag of coffee he recently got from West Colombia during the interview as a small gift for Ian.
Handcrafted Barbershop, run by Ian’s brother Isaac, works hand in hand with Move Along.
“It’s been running as smooth as we could’ve hoped for. Having a dual business is beneficial, and if someone’s coming in for a haircut they often grab a coffee as well,” said Isaac Holmes.
“We’ve been living in this neighborhood for 12 years so it has really become a home for us. It’s like an extension of what we’ve already been a part of. It’s a year apart kind of situation so we’ve always done something in creative form together,” He added.
“It’s the best coffee shop in the city, I drive from Evanston, Illinois all the way down here on Grand to get my cup of coffee and my hair cut twice a week,” said “Jay” who was getting his bi-weekly haircut from Isaac.
Tyler Gray, also a long time patron, says he’s been supporting the brothers since they opened.
“I moved away for a year, got married back in Chicago, and came back here just to get my haircut before my wedding, and I’m expecting a baby on Sunday,” he said.
“I always stop in the shop to shoot the breeze with the guys, and just enjoy being part of the community. They’re a staple here, and it’s a good spot to be,” he added.
Move Along’s neighbors have nothing but praise for them. Paul Stern, who works at Salerno’s next door, says he appreciates the coffee and the rock n’ roll they play.
Salerno’s, a small-chain restaurant that’s been showcasing Italian flavor in Chicago since 1966.
(Deedee El bego/CLASSICCHICAGO)
“I usually get a shot of espresso and a latte to sip on. They’re very genuine, very neighborly, and pretty tiny! But they do their own thing and I like that a lot,” Stern says.
Ian mentions that Vinnie’s, a sub shop across the street, has also formed a close relationship with Move Along.
Vinnie’s Sub Shop, a small business that has been serving up subs for the last 16 years. (Deedee El bego/CLASSICCHICAGO)
“The owner’s been there forever, she’s a super sweet lady. Occasionally she’ll come through and just drop a sandwich in and I’ll go down and drop coffee off, and it’s just nice in that neighborly way.”
Move Along doesn’t roast their own coffee, opting to instead provide a stepping stone for both local and guest roasters.
The shop features local roaster Gaslight Coffee Roasters from Logan Square, and a rotating guest roaster. Ian says they value Gaslight for their consistency and uniqueness in the Chicago market. The guest roaster changes every three months, which allows customers to experience coffee profiles from different regions.
Currently, the shop offers coffees from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, and Ethiopia. This variety lets customers sample different coffees from all over the world and Move Along always offers samples.
“Obviously we need to make money, but the ultimate goal is just to stay open and not charge an arm and a leg for what everybody is needing to charge their day, and it’s been good so far.”
