After many attempts to draw a national coffee retailer into the downtown, Westmont commuters looking for their morning caffeine fix may be in luck.

An espresso bar carrying Seattle’s Best coffee products, equipped with a camera alerting customers when their oncoming train is approaching, may open directly across from the train station.

The cameras, as well as the concept of the coffee lounge — called Dolce’s Espresso Bar and Cafe — to enter the vacant space at 15 W. Quincy Ave., was presented by the developer, Rusty Sproat, at the Thursday Committee of the Whole meeting.

The camera installed at the Westmont train depot would send a wireless signal to monitors inside the store, giving customers a view of the eastbound train tracks. If the camera is approved by the Village Board Monday evening, Sproat said he will proceed with the project. The meeting was held after press time.

Sproat said he is modeling the store after a successful coffee lounge in Paris, which includes plush seating, oak floors and brick walls. The store would sell coffee products, paninis for lunch and gelato, similar to what is sold in Italy.

“The ice cream in Italy is so smooth,” said Sproat. “We’d bring in real quality Italian ice cream.”

The store would sell the entire line of Seattle’s Best coffee products, a national name owned by Starbucks.

Sproat, who operates Sproat Group Inc., is currently building luxury condominiums and townhomes in Westmont. When he presented the camera idea to Starbucks representatives, they had never heard of the idea. Sproat said they called his idea “super cool.”

The camera, Sproat said, will provide customers shelter in the winter while they are able to monitor when their train arrives.

But others present at the meeting were not so keen on Sproat’s idea.
Craig Pro, the owner of Brewed Awakening — the first coffee shop to come to Westmont 15 years ago — thought the espresso lounge would be invasive to his long-standing business.

“I don’t understand the camera business, and in terms of another coffee shop, we’re only two doors down. It’s ridiculous,” said Pro.

Pro’s long-time customers were also at the meeting, and spoke against a new coffee shop in fear a corporate name would hurt local business owners and alter the character of the downtown.