LaunchKitExplore Chicago
All Chicago activity

Chicago / ON OUR RADAR

possible opening

CAFE DESCARTES

50 W WASHINGTON ST

Chicago · Public permit record

Name supported by the permit source. Current operation is unverified.

Illustrative cafe interior, not this venue
Illustrative interior · AI-generated, not venue photography
A signal of activity. Not a confirmed opening.

01 / THE SIGNAL

What’s taking shape.

The description explicitly mentions a new food-service tenant, operator, or space. This is a potential opening signal only.

INTERIOR ALTERATION OF EXISTING CAFE SPACE ON LOWER CONCOURSE LEVEL FOR NEW TENANT. PREVIOUS TENANT WAS STARBUCKS. NEW TENANT CAFE DESCARTES. LIMITED MODIFICATIONS INCLUDING MILLWORK, NEW EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING.SELF-CERTIFICATION

Supporting source text · Chicago description rules v1 · Review: unreviewed

02 / THE TIMELINE

The record so far.

  1. September 25, 2025

    Application review began

    Recorded by the city’s permitting system.

  2. October 14, 2025

    Ready-to-issue / issue date

    May indicate readiness to issue subject to fees.

  3. Still unknown

    Opening date

    A permit alone does not confirm when a business opens.

03 / STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE

The original permit.

INTERIOR ALTERATION OF EXISTING CAFE SPACE ON LOWER CONCOURSE LEVEL FOR NEW TENANT. PREVIOUS TENANT WAS STARBUCKS. NEW TENANT CAFE DESCARTES. LIMITED MODIFICATIONS INCLUDING MILLWORK, NEW EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING.SELF-CERTIFICATION

Name evidence

INTERIOR ALTERATION OF EXISTING CAFE SPACE ON LOWER CONCOURSE LEVEL FOR NEW TENANT. PREVIOUS TENANT WAS STARBUCKS. NEW TENANT CAFE DESCARTES. LIMITED MODIFICATIONS INCLUDING MILLWORK, NEW EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING.SELF-CERTIFICATION

Read the official permit

Source record 3423776 · Retrieved September 30, 2026

KEEP EXPLORING

Another address. Another story.

Browse Chicago activity