Serving coffee and pastries at 2943 West Belmont Ave. in Chicago
Hours:
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Evening Meetings by Appointment – Contact us!
Honoring the enduring legacy of coffee and community, The People’s Cafe is a place to build connections—we offer an inviting space for getting together outside of work and home while enjoying delicious coffee and food.
The Story Behind The People’s Cafe
“I was extremely fortunate to have gathered the resources to purchase the building where I live. On the first floor there was a cafe, and they decided to move to a different location. In its place, I decided to create The People’s Cafe, following in the great tradition of coffee houses as spaces where people gather to build community, preserve democracy, and celebrate the talents of all community members.” —Mary Sommers
Honoring the enduring legacy of coffee and community
For centuries, cafes have been at the heart of social and political life—places where people gather, ideas spark, and change begins. From their roots in the Middle East to their blossoming in 19th- and early 20th-century Europe, coffee houses have long served as gathering places for political debate, religious reflection, artistic expression, and intellectual exchange.
In 20th-century America, independent coffee houses became sanctuaries for counterculture and rebellion. Artists, thinkers, activists, clergy, and neighbors convened within their walls, challenging norms and voicing new visions for society. Think of the Beat Generation movement, the Civil Rights movement, the Feminist movement, the Peace movement, the LGBTQ+ movement, and the Environmental movement whose participants all found sustenance in the warmth of these communal spaces—brewing up “good trouble” over shared cups of coffee.
Today, The People’s Cafe proudly carries forward this tradition of nurturing justice and peacemaking. The well-being of our communities is shaped by the choices we make together. We invite you to be part of this living legacy—join us in building a stronger, more compassionate community by supporting The People’s Cafe.
Our Founder
Mary Sommers, Owner
Mary Sommers is Director of a Free-Standing Birth Center for a community health center and the Academic Affairs Director of the Midwest Maternal Child Institute where she trains midwives and doulas. She is a Certified Professional Midwife. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Service from DePaul University. She also has a diploma in Jungian Studies from the C.G. Jung Institute in Chicago. Mary has many years of experience and the wisdom that comes from witnessing more than 2,000 deliveries over the past 40 years. Mary in her limited free time does tarot readings, dream interpretations and creates mandala art and jewelry.
Nicholas McMillan
Nicholas McMillan began his 15+ year career in the service industry on food trucks in Chicago, followed by a couple years as a line cook in the bustling restaurant scene of New Orleans. Upon returning to Chicago, he took his first shot at ownership by starting a catering and craft services company for film sets. For the past six years has honed his coffee skills doing high volume coffee catering. The service industry has become a vocation for Nicholas, grounded in an unwavering dedication to creating accessible quality products and experiences. His natural knack for hosting and curating comes alive as owner of The People's Cafe, his long dreamed of brick-and-mortar third place, to provide fertile ground for community building, organizing, and regulation through the ritual of coffee and conversation. When not at the cafe, Nicholas is creating and performing with his band, ABOLISHVICTORY! Make sure to pick up a tape or cd in the shop!
Coco Wallace
Coco Wallace is taking a respite from their 15-year-long filmmaking career to pursue a lifelong dream of operating/owning a small business. Their entrepreneurial spirit sprang into action during elementary thru high school fundraiser drives. They would walk door-to-door throughout town and assuredly earned top salesperson every year! They also come from a long line of small business owners on both parents' sides, including drug stores, grocery stores, an auto body garage, restaurant, stable, and even orchestras. As a fan of life-long-learning, you can find Coco behind the bar studying how to make coffee drinks in the morning, plugging numbers into the spreadsheets in the afternoon, and hosting community events in the evening. When not at work, Coco enjoys maintaining their garden, tinkering with their Mazda Miata and biking to wherever their friends are to hangout.
The People’s Cafe
Let’s stay connected. Reach out about a project, collaboration or just to say hello!