Closings

Evanston’s Pioneer Roaster Casteel Coffee Closes

Casteel Coffee in happier, roastier days.
Casteel Coffee in happier, roastier days. Photo: courtesy Casteel Coffee

One of the pioneering artisanal coffee roasters in the area has shut down, apparently closing both its original Evanston location and a satellite stand in the Aqua building in Streeterville. Founder Lee Casteel began roasting small batch coffee in Evanston in 1987, and began serving coffee from his beans at The Bean Counter Cafe on Central Street in 1993, earning a considerable following when artisanal coffee roasters were still fairly rare on the ground. Casteel Coffee opened on Main Street in 1995, and moved back to Central in 2001. At some point in the last few years, Casteel sold the business to present owner Carol Harris, and Harris outsourced roasting to Uncommon Grounds in Saugatuck, Michigan, in mid-2011, removing one of the things that had been most distinctive about the business in a time of increased competition. The business shut down Saturday and will have an inventory liquidation sale (no bean coffee, just stuff) in the near future. [LTHForum]

Evanston’s Pioneer Roaster Casteel Coffee Closes