Folklore had its grand opening on Friday, December 8th, 2023.
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7am – 4pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 7am – 2pm
Address:
214 Main Street, Lemont, IL 60439
Website:
August 2023
It was just announced that a new coffee shop will be opening in downtown Lemont sometime this Fall (2023) called Folklore Coffee.
There’s been so much interest from the community on social media around the news so I reached out to the owner, Tess Abbasi, to get more details.
So, here’s a quick rundown:
- Folklore Coffee will be located at 214 Main Street in downtown Lemont.
- Tess is aiming for a grand opening sometime in late October.
- They’ve partnered with Whirlwind Coffee in Oak Park to create custom coffee blends for the shop.
- In addition to drip coffee, they’ll have espresso-based drinks, cold brew coffee, teas, cold-pressed juices, and some unique seasonal drinks featuring flavors such as pistachio, rose, and butterfly pea.
- Folklore’s plans also include delicious locally sourced pastries, pop-up events, and community involvement.
If you’d like to follow and support their journey leading up to the grand opening, follow Folklore Coffee:
I asked Tess a bunch of questions and she shared a TON, which I’m super thankful for. Below are my questions and her responses.
What can you share about Folklore Coffee’s location?
We will be located at 214 Main Street in downtown Lemont. I wish I knew the history of the building, but I do know that it still has its original Lemont limestone foundation from the 1800s!
What’s your vision for the shop? What can people expect?
Folklore Coffee will be a hub for the community, a place where neighbors gather to start their day or take a break from their busy schedules. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee will fill the air, creating an inviting atmosphere that welcomes both regulars and newcomers alike.
As you step inside, you will be greeted by friendly baristas who know your name and preferred drink. They take pride in their craft, carefully selecting the finest beans and expertly brewing each cup to perfection; the attention to detail is evident in every sip.
What coffee will you be serving?
I am very excited to partner with Whirlwind Coffee in Oak Park. Together we are creating custom coffee blends for Folklore, which I consider to be the best cup of coffee in my humble opinion.
Outside of drip coffee, we’ll also have espresso-based drinks, cold brew, teas, and cold-pressed juices. I’m most excited to show off our seasonal drinks, which will feature some unique flavors such as pistachio, rose, and butterfly pea.
What kinds of special touches can people expect from Folklore?
I’m really excited to bring an elevated but comfortable coffee shop experience to Lemont. Customers can expect latte & tea flights, delicious locally sourced pastries, pop-up events, and lots of community involvement.
Sustainability is one of our main mission points, so we are committed to creating clean-up events around the I&M Canal and the Heritage Quarries every few months.
What will make you stand out from other coffee shops around?
My love for specialty coffee is obvious, but one of my least favorite aspects about the industry is that it can be pretentious. Walking into a specialty coffee shop can feel incredibly intimidating as is- there are drinks or ingredients you may have never heard of, the staff can feel unwelcoming or rude, or there’s a region of coffee listed you may know nothing about.
My number one goal as an owner is to make everyone feel welcomed and comfortable enough to ask questions to learn more about what’s in your cup and about the industry in general.
Additionally, I have such a strong love for the community and want to see Lemont continue to grow. I can’t wait to get involved in the many community events that happen year-round, and even more excited to create new events and traditions.
Ultimately, I want to make sure you start your day with a smile, a good conversation, and an even better cup of coffee.
What’s the meaning or story behind the name, Folklore Coffee?
This is a bit of a goofy story. It all starts with my absolute love for Bigfoot. As an avid hiker and nature lover, I love the folklore around Bigfoot and always hope to see one while hiking.
While visiting my best friend in Milwaukee, our group somehow got into a conversation about Bigfoot and other fantastical creatures that I love and believe in.
I love that there are so many colorful creatures that are passed down through generations of storytelling and, to be honest, life is boring without the sense of enchantment one can feel from the magic of these tales…so why not believe?
Folklore comes from my passion of wanting to create a magical experience for my customers through a cup of coffee, the same way I feel whenever I read a story about Bigfoot.
A bit about Tess
I’m an avid reader and consider myself the #1 fangirl of the Lemont Public Library. Although I’m sad that I’ll have to put this on the back burner for now, my husband and I love to travel.
Of all the places we’ve been so far, Amsterdam is my favorite European city and Vermont is my favorite state!
I’m a horseback rider and ride a 26-year-old Thoroughbred stallion named Samba. I have 2 dachshunds, Jackson and Heidi, who will be available for pets at the coffee shop since they are official employees. I love hiking, nature walks, biking, and trashy reality TV.
Halloween is my favorite holiday because I love all things spooky- ghost stories and podcasts are read/listened to year-round!
Tess’s Story
My love for coffee comes from my mom, Lynn. When I think of my mom, she always has a cup of coffee in her hand. When I was younger, she would let me indulge in the sugary coffee drinks from Gloria Jeans at the mall, which made me feel special and more connected to her.
Fast forward a few years, when I was 18 years old I very abruptly moved to NYC to study Fashion Design…and was extremely broke. In order to make money, I took on shifts before my morning classes as a barback for a prominent roastery called Joe Coffee Company. This is where the addiction and love really kicked in!
The staff opened my eyes to the world of specialty coffee and gave me such an amazing foundation. This is also where I had my first cup of black coffee, which has been my go-to coffee drink since then.
After living in NYC for a bit, I decided to take a leave from school in order to pursue my career within the bridal industry. I moved back to my hometown, Berwyn, and took a job at Metropolis Coffee Company in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago.
In order to level up within Metropolis, I had to take a series of classes and tests, including showing off my ability to pick up tasting notes from multiple coffee regions.
I know this sounds crazy to most, but I remember after working there for a week, I came home and told my mom, “I’m going to open my own coffee shop one day.” The funny thing about dreams is that “one day” actually comes at you both slower and faster than you realize.
From 2014-2023, I worked in corporate roles within the bridal industry, but always pined for my own business. My husband and I moved to Lemont in 2017 and immediately immersed ourselves in the community.
We love to support the local businesses, walk our dogs downtown, and we frequent the Heritage Quarries almost every day for a nature walk.
After every community event or during our walks, the same conversation point would come up: me opening my coffee shop. For the first few years of living here, I would always pass it off as “when I’m ready,” but the feeling inside me never left.
The journey to opening the shop has been both easy and difficult for a variety of reasons. More business owners are starting to talk about this, but I was incredibly scared and insecure about taking the initial step, which is just committing to actually opening a business.
I’ve never (nor anyone in my immediate family) started a business before, so the lack of knowledge breeds fear and insecurity.
One moment, you’re young and fun and the next thing you know you have to be knowledgeable in small business law, marketing, plumbing, accounting….the list never ends.
The financial commitment is terrifying, as is the possibility of failure.
However, the community has made me feel more confident in my decision to do this. From day one, I have had nothing but positive support- endless comments and shares on social media, community members reaching out directly to me to share their excitement…it all makes a difference and makes me feel so humbled and supported.
I do also want to shout out some of the other women-owned small businesses in Lemont. Sommer of Mabel’s Market, Massiel of That Girl & Co., and Molly Hebda of Molly Hebda Photography supported me years ago when I initially told them that I wanted to open up a coffee shop in Lemont.
They have provided endless resources and pieces of advice to help me along the way. It not only takes a village to bring this dream to life, but strong women in leadership to show you that it really can get done.
Do you know if Folklore is hiring?
Yes, I believe they are. They just posted on their Instagram a few days ago. You can send your resume to: folklore.lemont@gmail.com.