Overflow Coffee

What Overflow Coffee does

Overflow Coffee is a BIPOC-owned and operated specialty coffee shop operating a single retail location at 1449 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago's South Loop, housed in the historic former building of Vee-Jay Records, the legendary Chicago record label that released the first U.S. Beatles record. Founded in 2010 and relocated to its current site in 2021, the business serves specialty coffee from Chicago-based roasters Metric Coffee and Groundswell Coffee alongside freshly baked pastries, with weekday hours of 7am-3pm and weekend hours of 8am-4pm. The company operates with approximately 10 employees and a Point of Sale-based retail operation, supported by ChowNow for online pickup ordering.

Beyond the core café, Overflow Coffee monetizes its space through a diversified revenue model: catering services for off-site corporate and private events, tiered on-site space rentals (full-space, half-space, and weekday-only table rentals), and ticketed programming produced in partnership with OAD Productions (including Acoustic Afternoons, Music to My Soul series, Overflow After Dark, open mics, and artist enrichment workshops priced from $4 to $35). Upstairs, the affiliated Mox.E Coworking sub-brand offers coworking memberships, conference rooms for 2-15 people, phone booths, private offices, and 24/7 access with high-speed fiber internet. Both entities operate under the Entrenuity nonprofit umbrella, which is committed to equipping entrepreneurs to build businesses, creating a vertically integrated café-coworking-events ecosystem.

The business targets five primary customer segments: South Loop local residents seeking community space, Chicago-based musicians and performers, entrepreneurs connected through Entrenuity, event planners and private-party hosts, and remote workers needing flexible workspace. Distribution is multi-channel, combining walk-in retail, ChowNow online ordering, Eventbrite ticketing, direct catering sales, and space rental inquiries, while marketing relies on Instagram, Eventbrite, earned media in outlets including Chicago Magazine, CBS Chicago, NBC 5, the Chicago Sun Times, and Inside Hook, and community partnerships with organizations such as The Garden Open Mic, Ritual Zero Proof, and Chicago DCASE grant-funded programming.

Name

Overflow Coffee

Website

https://overflowchicago.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Overflow Coffee is a BIPOC-owned specialty coffee shop in Chicago's South Loop operating from the historic Vee-Jay Records building, serving Metric and Groundswell coffees alongside catering, event space rental, ticketed live music programming, and an affiliated coworking sub-brand under the Entrenuity nonprofit ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Shop / Café

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7225)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cafe-Bakeries (Coffee + Pastry Focus) (THAFADAG), Beverage Service (Coffee/Tea/Juice) & Refreshment Stations (HSACAGAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee shop
• Community event venue
• Coffee catering services
• Coworking space rental
• Live music performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Sales: In-store sales of specialty coffee drinks, espresso beverages, and pastries. Sources coffee from Metric Coffee and Groundswell Coffee, both Chicago-based specialty roasters.
2. Space Rental: Rental of coffee shop space for private events including full-space rentals, half-space rentals, and table rentals. Serves events such as open mics, EP release parties, engagement parties, baby showers, book release parties, birthday parties, and corporate events.
3. Catering Services: Catering menu featuring coffee and food items for off-site events and corporate catering.
4. Event Ticketing: Ticket sales for hosted events including performances, showcases, workshops, and networking events. Events include various price points from free to $35 for full-day artist empowerment experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Overflow Coffee operates a specialty coffee shop in Chicago's South Loop serving hand-brewed coffee, espresso beverages, and freshly baked pastries from Chicago-based roasters Metric and Groundswell. Beyond café service, the business offers catering, three tiers of on-site event space rentals (full space, half space, table), and hosts ticketed live music and community events including the Acoustic Afternoons and Music to My Soul series in partnership with OAD Productions.

Product overview

Overflow Coffee operates as a specialty coffee shop offering hand-brewed coffees and freshly baked pastries, with a focus on community building and arts performance. The business provides a multi-layered service portfolio centered on its core café operations supplemented by catering services and event space rentals (Full Space, Half Space, and Table Rental options). Located in the historic Vee-Jay Records building, Overflow also hosts OAD Productions live music events including Acoustic Afternoons and Music to My Soul showcases. Adjacent to the café is Mox.E Coworking, a separate but affiliated coworking space offering meeting rooms and flexible workspaces. The company also offers online ordering through third-party platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coffee & Espresso Drinks
• Fresh Baked Pastries
• Catering Services
• Full Space Rental
• Half Space Rental
• Table Rental
• OAD Productions Events
• Mox.E Coworking

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Metric CoffeecoreTechnology or IntegrationChicago-based specialty coffee roaster and retailer. Overflow Coffee proudly offers Metric Coffee as one of their featured roasters, serving their specialty coffee and espresso beverages.
• Groundswell CoffeecoreTechnology or IntegrationChicago-based specialty coffee roaster and retailer. Overflow Coffee proudly offers Groundswell Coffee alongside Metric Coffee as their featured roasters.
• EntrenuitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization committed to equipping entrepreneurs with tools to turn ideas into thriving businesses. Powers both Overflow Coffee and Mox.E Coworking as part of their entrepreneurial support ecosystem. Founded by L. Brian Jenkins.
• OAD ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent production company that hosts Overflow After Dark and Music to My Soul series at the venue, including gospel showcases, hip hop showcases, artist empowerment experiences, and other music events celebrating Black artists and culture.
• The Garden Open MiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly open mic collaboration at Overflow Coffee featuring singers, poets, rappers, dancers, and instrumentalists. Performance slots are limited with sign-up at the door.
• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Chicago department providing Chicago Presents grants that support OAD Productions events at Overflow Coffee, including Music to My Soul series and various music showcases.
• The Fame CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization focused on providing equitable access to arts education. Collaborated with OAD Productions at Overflow Coffee for youth-focused Latin Dance & Drum event.
• Ritual Zero ProofminorGTM or Marketing PartnerZero-proof cocktail brand featured at Overflow After Dark and Music to My Soul events.
• Coral Heart CounselingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen-owned counseling service providing mental health support. Received 15% of ticket sales from Women in Business Wellness Panel event.
• Gift of HopeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrgan donation awareness organization. 10% of proceeds from Carr Care Charity Open Mic event support Gift of Hope in honor of CarrCARE CEO Alana N. Carr.
• Small Circle Music ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPittsburgh-based music production company bringing Pr3mo for Carr Care Charity Rap Showcase & Open Mic event at Overflow Coffee.
• Alba DessertsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDessert vendor providing exclusive pre-sale cookies at Carr Care Charity Open Mic event.
• Clemente High SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal high school receiving donated books and professional clothing from community drive events at Overflow Coffee.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dark Matter Coffee: Chicago-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with multiple storefronts in the city. Directly comparable to Overflow as a third-wave specialty coffee operator serving Chicago customers with similar in-store beverage programs.
• Metropolis Coffee Company: Chicago-based specialty roaster with retail cafe presence. Comparable to Overflow as a long-standing Chicago specialty coffee operator with both wholesale and cafe operations.
• Metric Coffee: Chicago-based specialty roaster and cafe operator whose coffee is served at Overflow Coffee. Operates its own retail cafes in the city, making it both a supplier and a direct competitive peer for third-wave specialty coffee in Chicago.
• Gaslight Coffee Roasters: Independently owned Chicago specialty roaster and cafe operating in Logan Square and other Chicago neighborhoods. Comparable to Overflow as an owner-operator specialty coffee shop with roast-cafe hybrid retail.
• Ipsento Coffee: Chicago specialty coffee roaster and cafe serving third-wave coffee and pastries in a small-footprint storefront format. Overlaps with Overflow on specialty coffee positioning and cafe-bakery mix.

Broad incumbents

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Nationally recognized third-wave specialty coffee brand with cafes in major U.S. cities. A broader incumbent that benchmarks brand expectations and pricing in the third-wave category in which Overflow competes.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: National specialty coffee roaster operating cafes in major cities. Comparable as a third-wave cafe operator with broader capital and geographic reach competing for the same craft coffee consumer.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Pioneering Chicago third-wave coffee chain with multiple Chicago cafes and national wholesale presence. A broader incumbent in the same specialty coffee category that competes for the same South Loop customer base with deeper capital.

Regional players

• Colectivo Coffee: Wisconsin-based specialty roaster and multi-location cafe operator with a community/events programming focus. Comparable to Overflow as a Midwest specialty coffee operator blending cafe and event/community programming.
• Stone Creek Coffee: Wisconsin-based specialty roaster and cafe chain with locations in the greater Midwest. Comparable multi-site cafe format with a community-oriented specialty coffee positioning, though operating in a different primary geography than Overflow.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/oadproductions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/overflow-coffee-bar-l3c

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Overflow Coffee