Down to Business: Best coffee in the world needs best hospitality to sell it, Sparrow manager says
Address: 120 Water St., Naperville
Phone/website: 630-384-8940; www.sparrowcoffee.com
General manager: Megan Gottig, 46, of Naperville
Years in business: 7
What does your business do? 'We serve coffee. It's very good coffee. And we have very good food. We have exceptional pastries that we prepare in-house,' Gottig said.
What's the background? 'We roast our own coffee. Sparrow Coffee Roastery opened 13 years ago, near the United Center. … Our founder, Chris Chacko, he's been in the coffee industry 35 years. He's well connected in the coffee world. He brought us to an expo in Portland two years ago, everyone knew him. He opened Sparrow Roastery as a whole coffee roaster for high-end restaurants. We are in two-thirds of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago.'
Why open a coffee shop in Naperville? 'The Hotel Indigo, when this project opened, the management company was looking for an anchor. They wanted a coffee house. They stumbled on Sparrow Coffee and asked us.'
Why is this place always crowded? 'It's the trifecta. We have excellent coffee, great food and it's a wonderful location. But that doesn't mean anything if we don't have a friendly staff.'
How do you ensure that? 'When we hire our staff, we're not looking for coffee experience or qualifications. We know the coffee piece. They have to be first of all, good people, friendly people. Willing to have a conversation. Be attentive. Hospitality is first.'
How much coffee do you sell in a week? 'See all those black bags on the wall? We get twice that much each week. Each bag is five pounds.'
What do you order here? 'We don't serve anything we're not 100% behind. We have a grading scale. … It has to have a certain score. … We do that several time a year to all of our items. … Our food items came a little later after we opened. Our avocado toast, I've never had a better one. … We get ham from a local farm. We make our own sauerkraut. We make our own jam.'
How much coffee do you drink daily? 'I know my limits. … If I drink more than two cups, I won't sleep. But we have excellent decaf.'
Where are the coffee beans from? 'All around the world. Our roastery manager (went on) a trip to Brazil last summer. … I just got back from Australia. We went to a coffee expo in Melbourne.'
What do you like about your job? 'I love meeting people. I love talking with people. There's always a new challenge here, something to figure out. … Plus, it' s coffee. I'm not doing kidney transplants back there. You can't take yourself too seriously, but we take hospitality seriously. … Some of the regulars have become friends of mine.'
What challenges do you face? 'I don't want to say we don't have any competition. Starbucks figured out world domination. It's just that we're doing something different. … I don't think anyone does coffee in Naperville the way we do.'
What does that mean? 'We're serving top-tier specialty coffee. The beans are graded. Almost like a wine. Graded on a scale that's international. And we know how to roast it because we have Chris, so the coffees taste great.
'We have a specific coffee program. If you order a latte, there's a swan or tulip (decoration). Latte art, you can't make that art if you're not doing it right.'
How many employees work here? 'We have 25 to 40. Summer is our busiest season. The river walk is nonstop.'
When are you busiest? 'Between 9 and 11 on Saturday morning.'
What misconceptions do people have? 'Sometimes people come in and see all the high-tech equipment and think, 'Oh, they're going to be snobby.' I make sure that doesn't happen. … We want to be a bright spot in people's days.'
What does a customer say? 'It feels like home, but it feels stylish. The best coffee. I'm pregnant. I always get the decaf cappuccino. It's perfect,' Gabriella Moscatelli, of Oswego, said.
Any favorite stories? 'After I became the GM, the first week we had the polar vortex. We had to close for three days. Nobody was coming. … Then a pipe burst in the hotel and flooded our entire café.'
Any future plans? 'Our second coffee house is coming to Clarendon Hills this fall. … We have an awesome location near the train station, an old Starbucks.'
What's your advice for someone starting a business? 'Get to know every part of it. … I really do treat this place like it's mine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder says she is leaving California
For more than 75 years, In-N-Out Burger has been a pillar of California fast-food culture, its Double-Doubles and palm tree logos becoming fixtures of the West Coast landscape. But now, the family-owned chain is making a pivot eastward, with billionaire owner and Chief Executive Lynsi Snyder announcing her own departure from the Golden State. "There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here," Snyder said during a recent appearance on the "Relatable" podcast, hosted by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. The move represents a seismic shift for the leader of the brand. Currently operating more than 400 locations across eight states - California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Idaho - In-N-Out has long thrived on being the burger chain you couldn't find everywhere. "I like that we're sought after when someone's coming into town. I like that we're unique. that we're not on every corner," Snyder told Forbes in 2018. "You put us in every state, and it takes away some of its luster." But times, and Snyder's position, have changed. The company announced plans in January 2023 to establish a corporate office in Franklin, Tennessee, by 2026. In California, the company is consolidating its corporate operations to Baldwin Park, the chain's birthplace. The migration reflects a broader corporate exodus from California, with businesses and some billionaires leaving. Tesla, Charles Schwab and Chevron are among the companies that have moved, citing regulatory challenges, operational costs and policy disagreements. During the podcast, Snyder discussed elements of California policy that make the state hard to operate in, specifically referencing pandemic-era restrictions as particularly challenging. In-N-Out started in 1948 when Harry and Esther Snyder opened their first location on a small piece of land in Baldwin Park. With little money, they created what would become the first drive-through burger chain. From those humble beginnings, the chain grew into a part of Southern California mythology, attracting devoted fans from Michelin-starred chefs to celebrities such as Julia Child, who kept a map of all In-N-Out locations in her purse. Harry and Esther Snyder's granddaughter Lynsi became president in 2010 at age 27, making her one of America's youngest billionaires. Under her leadership, she has largely followed the path set down by her grandparents, maintaining the company's founding principles and her grandfather's own motto: "Keep it simple, do one thing and do it the best you can." Although at one point Snyder said the company wouldn't expand further east than Texas, her views have changed. She told Stuckey that "the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California." The relocation of both corporate operations and the CEO signals a fundamental change in the company's center of gravity. "It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there, and being able to have the family and other people's families out there," Snyder said, though she maintains limits on expansion. "Florida has begged us, and we're still saying no," she said on the podcast. "The East Coast states, we're still saying no." In-N-Out did not respond to a request for comment. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Eater
a day ago
- Eater
One of Santa Barbara's Most Celebrated Restaurants Opens a Dazzling Ventura Location
Over the last month, Santa Barbara staple (and Michelin Bib Gourmand) Corazón Cocina expanded into neighboring Carpinteria and Ventura. In late June, chef and owner Ramón Velázquez opened Corazón Cocina Sur at Carpinteria's new food hall, Linden Square. In the same week, he debuted Corazón Cocina's third location along a popular strip in Downtown Ventura, where he serves some fresh additions to Cocina's classic Mexican menu, plus something new for his mini-chain: a full bar. Velázquez's food is well-known to the Santa Barbara community. The Guadalajara-born chef immigrated to the U.S. in 1990 and worked at restaurants including Arigato and now-closed Cielito throughout the years. In 2014, Velázquez launched a popular weekly pop-up at Three Pickles Subs & Sandwiches before opening the first Corazón Cocina in 2016 in the Santa Barbara Public Market. At the Public Market location, the restaurant offered a compact menu showcasing five tacos, one quesadilla, a salad, and two ceviches. Six years later, in 2022, Velázquez opened a full-service Corazón Comedor on Victoria Street.. Velázquez also made an appearance on the Cooking Channel's Taco Trip and debuted Alma Fonda Fina in the Montecito Country Mart in mid-2024. At Corazón Cocina, diners can find traditional Mexican fare inspired by lessons from Velázquez's mother and grandmother, including burritos; salads; and a fiery Sayulita ceviche with wild Mexican shrimp, mango, tomatoes, ahi amarillo, avocado, and habanero aioli. Multiple tostadas and tacos are available, featuring proteins like birria with a peanut salsa macha, and chicken mole, along with quesadillas prepared with tortillas made on-site. The Carpinteria location operates as a fast-casual spot with a similar menu to the original location, while Ventura's is a full-service experience. At Ventura's full bar, Velázquez used small-batch mezcal for traditional margaritas or a flight to sip. All beers are Mexican, with wines hailing from Baja Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe. Corazón Cocina Ventura will also introduce a ribeye chicharron with mozzarella, chorizo, pasilla, and flour tortillas, as well as a tuna tartare with avocado, burnt habanero, and a crema serrano ponzu. Velázquez says that timing was key for the Ventura and Carpinteria locations. According to Velázquez, the building's landlord came to him with the opportunity, bringing his total number of restaurants up to five. 'My goal has never been to open a chain of restaurants and make money,' says Velázquez. 'Our main objective and goal is to produce great food at a good price. We are driven by farmers' markets, local fish, and great corn from Mexico.' Corazón Cocina Ventura is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 278 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA, 93001. Corazón Cocina Carpinteria is open at 772 Linden Avenue, Carpinteria, CA, 93013 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tuna tostada with house-prepared tortillas. Corazón Cocina Tuna tartare. Corazón Cocina Asada taco. Corazón Cocina's cilantro passionfruit Margarita. Dining area. Corazón Cocina Entry to Corazón Cocina Ventura. Corazón Cocina Sky view from dining room. Entry to Corazón Cocina Ventura. Corazón Cocina Related The Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara Eater LA All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder says she is leaving California
For more than 75 years, In-N-Out Burger has been a pillar of California fast-food culture, its Double-Doubles and palm tree logos becoming fixtures of the West Coast landscape. But now, the family-owned chain is making a pivot eastward, with billionaire owner and Chief Executive Lynsi Snyder announcing her own departure from the Golden State. 'There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,' Snyder said during a recent appearance on the 'Relatable' podcast, hosted by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. The move represents a seismic shift for the leader of the brand. Currently operating more than 400 locations across eight states — California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Idaho — In-N-Out has long thrived on being the burger chain you couldn't find everywhere. 'I like that we're sought after when someone's coming into town. I like that we're unique. that we're not on every corner,' Snyder told Forbes in 2018. 'You put us in every state, and it takes away some of its luster.' But times, and Snyder's position, have changed. The company announced plans in January 2023 to establish a corporate office in Franklin, Tenn., by 2026. In California, the company is consolidating its corporate operations to Baldwin Park, the chain's birthplace. The migration reflects a broader corporate exodus from California, with businesses and some billionaires leaving. Tesla, Charles Schwab and Chevron are among the companies that have moved, citing regulatory challenges, operational costs and policy disagreements. During the podcast, Snyder discussed elements of California policy that make the state hard to operate in, specifically referencing pandemic-era restrictions as particularly challenging. In-N-Out started in 1948 when Harry and Esther Snyder opened their first location on a small piece of land in Baldwin Park. With little money, they created what would become the first drive-through burger chain. From those humble beginnings, the chain grew into a part of Southern California mythology, attracting devoted fans from Michelin-starred chefs to celebrities such as Julia Child, who kept a map of all In-N-Out locations in her purse. Harry and Esther Snyder's granddaughter Lynsi became president in 2010 at age 27, making her one of America's youngest billionaires. Under her leadership, she has largely followed the path set down by her grandparents, maintaining the company's founding principles and her grandfather's own motto: 'Keep it simple, do one thing and do it the best you can.' Although at one point Snyder said the company wouldn't expand further east than Texas, her views have changed. She told Stuckey that 'the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California.' The relocation of both corporate operations and the CEO signals a fundamental change in the company's center of gravity. 'It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there, and being able to have the family and other people's families out there,' Snyder said, though she maintains limits on expansion. 'Florida has begged us, and we're still saying no,' she said on the podcast. 'The East Coast states, we're still saying no.' In-N-Out did not respond to a request for comment.
