Thattu 

 2601 W. Fletcher St., Avondale

Grant $250,000

In 2022, Thattu was awarded a $250,000 Community Development Grant which funded the interior build out of a vacant building, transforming the structure into the colorful space that houses the restaurant today. After opening in May 2023, Thattu recognized on New York Times 2023 “Restaurant List” and named one of the best new eateries by Food and Wine. 

“Opportunity came with the Chicago Recovery Plan grant, and helped make our restaurant happen. We don’t have any debt; we are profitable, and we are actually able to pay our employees a living wage,”

— Vinod Kalathil, Co-Owner, Thattu. 

Magnifico Coffee Roasters & Coffee Shop

3063 N. Milwaukee Ave., Avondale 

Grant $217,000

When the Acebedo family decided to open a coffee shop featuring the flavors of their native Colombia, they thought they would have to build out the Avondale storefront themselves. Thanks to a Community Development Grant that covered Magnifico Coffee’s construction costs, the family instead focused on sourcing the best Colombian coffee and finding local artists to highlight on a gallery wall.  

Magnifico Coffee opened its doors in Avondale in March 2023 and serves locally made pastries, with coffee grown by two women-owned Colombian farms and roasted in-house, along with Colombian pastries. 

“The Chicago Recovery Plan elevated the work and just opened so many doors. We honestly couldn’t have been able to provide our community a place like this without the support of the grant.”

-Angelica Acebedo-Frint, Co-Owner, Magnífico Coffee Roasters & Coffee Shop

Community Development Grant finalists can visit the grant finalist resources page for more information. 

For any additional questions, please email dpd@cityofchicago.org.