CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — On the corner of Grace and Clark streets, a unique place that has become iconic to the Wrigleyville neighborhood and a pioneer in the green restaurant movement.
"Uncommon Ground started with the first coffee bar in the city modeled after what was happening in Seattle at the time," said Helen Cameron, co-owner of Uncommon Ground, told WBBM Newsradio.
Cameron said the business began as a small cafe with just her and her husband, Mike, who both came from a restaurant background.
"We met while working in the restaurant business and we really wanted to go out on our own. This year marks our 30-year anniversary of Uncommon Ground. We opened this cafe on July 1, 1991," she said.
Now, the Camerons employ more than 100 people between their two locations.
Over the years, the couple expanded their space west on Grace Street, opening up as a full restaurant and kitchen. In 2007, they opened their second location in Edgewater, home of the first certified organic rooftop farm in the United States. Back at its original location, solar panels are on the roof and a sidewalk farm surrounds their outdoor patio.
"As you can see, we grow some of our own food here. "We just planted loads of tomatoes and peppers, the cucumbers are getting big," said Cameron, who takes care of the garden. "We also grow mint, which goes into a mean Mojito."
In 2014, they opened Greenstar Brewing, the first certified organic brewery in Illinois.
"There's an opportunity to explore and take our ideas and really run with them here," said Brandon Stern, Head Brewer. Greenstar Organic Brewery.
"Organic beer is gaining more traction and more interest as consumers are more aware and more interested in what they are consuming. I really like this because it's like cooking but it's the science end of it too. It's rewarding." he said.
Cameron said farm-to-table and sustainability have become their hallmark, something she said her customers appreciate.
"We are fully committed to helping relocalize our food systems and communicate to our staff and our guests as much as we can about how important it is to know where your food is coming from,” she said.
As one of the greenest restaurants in the world, Cameron and her husband continue to lead the way in fresh, local food as well as local art and music.
"It's been a very organic evolution for us. Our live music will start up again in our listening room in a couple of weeks,” she said.
Cameron said after 30 years, two recessions and a pandemic, they can handle just about anything.
"Staffing is a big challenge right now. The world has become a totally different place now. We have to shift and adapt as quickly as we can to the situation." she said.
As Cameron sits on her outside patio, she looks around at what she and her husband created with a smile and gratitude.
"We've survived, and now we are thriving again and the community has really supported us and that has been just an amazing experience,” she said.
Uncommon Ground will celebrate its anniversary with specials and an anniversary beer called Perseverance.
"As things reopen, there will be a new normal but we will adapt. There's no one that does what we do that's why we are Uncommon Ground,” Cameron said.
For more information, visit uncommonground.com.
Related
