A Needed Pick-Me-Up for 93 Green Bay Road
Winnetka, IL | Placemaking + Urban Design
The Teska-designed patio at Tala Coffee in Winnetka came to life over the weekend as bikers, families, kiddos, and their pups breathed much awaited life into the space.
Once a Texaco gas station, the southeast corner of Green Bay Road and Winnetka Avenue has now been reimagined and repurposed. This Village-owned property got a much-needed makeover and a new tenant, Tala Coffee Roasters, and has quickly become a fan favorite in Winnetka.
“The store’s location is just a couple of blocks west from New Trier High School’s Winnetka campus. [Joanna] Tong [Tala’s marketing and operations director] and company expect to see plenty of students throughout the day once word spreads. But she said the coffee shop is a community hub, and so far, she’s been happy to see young families and neighbors come through.”
– Source Article: "New Brew: Tala Coffee ready to give Winnetka a pick-me-up" | The Record Northshore (December 4, 2023)
Teska was honored to work with the Village of Winnetka and Tala Coffee to tackle this much-anticipated public/private project. Highlights include:
- Leading design charrettes with the owner (Village) and tenant (Tala), and presentations to Architectural Review Board and Village Council.
- Providing a flexible design that accommodates daily café uses and large group events
- Maintaining a welcoming entrance and decorative hardscape near the intersection of Green Bay Road and Winnetka Avenue
- Coordinating the design with IDOT requirements
- Incorporating Village standard streetscape features with customization to distinguish this as a Winnetka ‘place’ while also celebrating the Indian Hill District individuality, including custom precast planters that reference the adjacent 1930’s era bridge motifs
Teska's Rendering of Tala Coffee Patio
Press
The Record Northshore
"New Brew: Tala Coffee ready to give Winnetka a pick-me-up" | Joe Coughlin, December 4th, 2023