The February opening of Cocoa Notes Bakeshop has taken a step toward revitalizing the downtown West Chicago area.
Walking in, the smell of fresh baked goods greets customers, and a warmth from the ovens fills the building.
“It’s a very beautiful bakery, very cozy and calm and very aesthetic. I love it. The colors used also are great,” West Chicago Community High School senior Anaitzel Huerta said.
From the start, the owners, Matt and Neha Myers wanted their shop to be a convenient stopping place for students and staff of West Chicago Community High School.
“We just want to be a place that the community – students, families, teachers, neighbors – wants to come and spend some time. Seeing the bakeshop filled is what we hope for,” Matt Myers said via email.
The Myers family spent much of the past year renovating the 150-year-old building known as “Wiant House” into a modern bakery.
“We worked with many local businesses to create the space – our general contractor went to WeGo, the architect works in our city, and the President of the West Chicago Community Center not only sold us the building but was a valuable resource during the process. Being able to support these local businesses aligns perfectly with our mission,” Matt Myers said.
The shop, now open to the public, is located at 151 W. Washington St. Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The menu rotates, but contains both healthy and sweet treats, including cookies, croissants, banana bread, brownies, scones, and vegan carrot cake, and a drink selection consisting of locally brewed Kindred Coffee, lemonade, sweet tea, Arnold Palmers, apple juice, and mineral water, among others.
“We look for flavors that match the season, for example cinnamon scones in the fall and now cranberry-orange scones for the spring, and lemon bars are coming for spring/summer. We expect some items will be here year-round, such as the brownies,” Matt Myers said.
Updates to the menu are written on a chalkboard behind the counter, and often posted to social media.
The bakery has received positive feedback from customers in its first month of business.
“I bought some items and some coffee that comes from Kindred. I brought the items to my work and shared with my coworkers. All of them enjoyed all the treats, the cookies, and scones, and banana bread. Made my day going there, and it’s not just a bakery or sweet treats. It really creates memories,” Huerta said.
