Next Door
WHAT: Next Door (Cafe)
WHERE: 659 W. Diversey Pkwy.
OUR RATING: Chance It!
(nextdoorchi.com)
Offering a variety of sweet treats, hot drinks and workspace, Next Door is a cafe that sells itself on being both a place to have a casual bite and sip on some coffee and as a collaborative zone, complete with free financial advice and other themed-workshops, conference rooms and desks. It’s an interesting concept, and makes for a great space that buzzes with all the feeling of a college library or study room. Definitely for some, but certainly not for all, Next Door caters to a younger crowd used to working in coffee shops designed for studying.
(nextdoorchi.com)
Adam: Next Door has the feeling of the Arts and Crafts movement behind it: lush woods, high beamed ceilings and reclaimed tables and chairs create a modern and earthy atmosphere that is both comforting and stimulating. Grabbing a table can be an issue, as they are generally packed just after 5pm. However, once you place your articles upon a seat, you may proceed to choosing your guilty pleasures from the menu.
With a selection of customizable crepes on offer, I felt obliged to give it a try, ordering the nutella and banana one, as it seemed to be the most delicious with a sweet character. Well, I have to say, I was wrong. What I was served was plenty of crepe and not very much nutella or banana slices. It was very sad, as I had quite high hopes for the place. It seemed to me that they were being deliberately stingy in a quite unnecessary way, so I was, needless to say, very disappointed.
But would I come back? Perhaps. I would certainly order something else and mainly arrive to enjoy the ambience, but the nutella crepe is a no-go area. Come for the decor, but be cautious in your ordering.
(nextdoorchi.com)
Alicia: Ultimately, Next Door is a hit or miss affair. Their coffee is pretty darn good, but they don’t always refill their milk jugs so if you’re a skim milk fan you might be out of luck pretty often. And as Adam mentioned, their filled crepes aren’t too filled. I ordered a crepe with blueberry compote and speculoos, and the very fact that they had speculoos as an option puts this place on my good side…yum! But the yum factor was limited to the small amount they put in there.
(nextdoorchi.com)
I don’t find Next Door’s atmosphere particularly welcoming. In fact, I find it quite sterile and so open as to be distracting. And I’m intrinsically dubious about it being an insurance and financial advising center (State Farm based). Nothing against State Farm in particular, but just the very association of a community center with an insurance company puts me a bit on edge.
(nextdoorchi.com)
While I wouldn’t work there on my own again, I would definitely go there to collaborate with others, especially with their sliding whiteboard walls, glass enclosed work spaces, and a plethora of group workshops available for free. I’m very excited to be signed up for their free yoga class next Tuesday morning, so we’ll see how that turns out as well. I find the place extremely neighborhood friendly, as they often shout out to their neighbors on social media outlets, and offer a wide variety of free programming which ranges anywhere from featuring local music talent to cooking classes, to yoga and entrepreneurial workshops.
(nextdoorchi.com)
Final thoughts: Participate in Next Door’s communal atmosphere and you’ll be amazed at the wealth of altruistic opportunities at hand. And, ultimately, we have nothing against a good cup o’ Joe and a safe space to share your ideas with others.